Arabic version: نشر خطط لقرية نائية لعمال الغاز في الإقليم الشمالي

According to ABC News, Dunmarra Development Land has published plans for a 600-hectare petroleum services precinct and workforce village near the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory.

The proposed development, south of the Dunmarra Wayside Inn in Birdum and about 600 kilometres south of Darwin, could house up to 3,000 gas workers. At full capacity, it would include 23-unit accommodation complexes for a rotating workforce and a town centre providing services.

Plans describe supermarkets, a medical clinic, airstrip and sporting facilities that would be open for public use. Drilling companies and gas industry contractors could lease commercial lots for business operations. The website does not state a construction cost or timetable and says the development would not be permanent.

Barkly Regional Council Mayor Sid Vashist said he had not known about the proposal before being contacted by the ABC. He said it was important for the development to support existing towns, including Elliott, and not deepen reliance on fly-in fly-out workforces.

Vashist raised concerns about the long-term future of resource-based settlements after industry activity ends. It is understood that no environmental or development applications have yet been lodged with the Northern Territory government.