Northline boosts NT Economy with $27 million distribution centre

Northline, one of Australia’s largest privately-owned and fastest growing logistics operations, has commenced construction on a new $27 million Darwin transport and logistics facility on a four hectare site at East Arm.

The investment will inject millions into the local economy and create employment opportunities during construction and operation. The East Arm development raises the total value of new transport and logistics facilities purpose built for Northline in the past two years to more than $72 million.

The occasion was marked with a site inspection by representatives from Darwin Council, the Land Development Corporation, Charter Hall, Gibb Group and Vaughan Constructions.

The Darwin facility, due for completion in August, will provide a significant boost to Northline’s Top End operations with easier access to sea, road and rail connections through its location within Darwin’s leading industrial precinct.

It will provide more than 14,500 square metres of warehousing and under roof freight operations, an increase of 6,500 square metre on the former distribution centre, and will include a new full-service workshop .

Northline Chief Executive Craige Whitton said the new facility, which is Northline’s third new Australian distribution centre in two years, demonstrated Northline’s ongoing commitment to the Northern Territory.

“As one of the first transport and logistics operators to start servicing northern Australia over 30 years ago, the Northern Territory not only forms an important part of Northline’s history, but remains integral to our long-term company success.” Mr Whitton said.

“The distribution centre’s location with sea, road and rail links located conveniently nearby, along with the improved efficiencies of the new facility, will be of significant benefit to our customers, improving our service offering and reducing turnaround times.

“Darwin is the gateway to Asia and Northline’s new East Arm location, in close proximity to the East Arm Wharf, will greatly increase the efficiency of our international freight service.
 
“The full-service workshop with on-site maintenance capability will improve the effectiveness of our fleet, while the increase in under roof freight and warehousing provides weatherproof security and peace of mind for our customers.

“Northline’s investment in a new purpose-built facility is a reflection of its long-term commitment to the NT.”

The Northern Territory government has welcomed Northline’s investment as well as praising the Land Development Corporation, the Government’s land developer.

“The Land Development Corporation, as the Northern Territory Government’s land developer, has done a great job in facilitating the land sale and subdivision works to make this development and others in the Territory a reality,” said Chief Minister Adam Giles.

Developer and Asset Management Company, Gibb Group, facilitated the project in partnership with Northline and the Land Development Corporation, by bringing a number of specialist Stakeholders to the table to make the development a reality.

Gibb Group Development Manager, Matthew Thiselton said the prime location of the development in close proximity to strategic infrastructure, coupled with the site’s position within a strong and established major industrial estate was key to ensuring all stakeholders, including property owner Charter Hall and tenant Northline ticked all their boxes.

“We are delighted to be developing this new facility for Northline and I’m pleased that our relationships with other stakeholders have enabled the project to go ahead. We’ve worked on other similar projects with Charter Hall in the past and I’m not surprised this particular development was attractive to them,” said Mr Thiselton.

Incorporated in 1983, Northline is a privately owned and managed Australian company specialising in four major areas of service provision: road and rail freight management services; warehousing and distribution; global freight forwarding and mining, construction, oil & gas logistics.

With 13 branches across the nation, the company’s extensive operation employs a diverse team of professional staff as well as dedicated full-time pick up and delivery subcontractor partners in all mainland capitals and many key regional centres.

The new Northline Darwin distribution facility will be located at Darwin Business Park, 16 Dawson Street, East Arm.  For more information visit www.northline.com.au

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ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Please contact Simon Hatcher on (08) 8412 4100 or 0419 780 071 (M) or simon@hughespr.com.au