Infrastructure NT Commissioner Appointed

26 January 2022

The Territory Government has appointed Ms Louise McCormick to the role of Commissioner for Infrastructure NT.

Over the past 16 years Louise has worked in the Northern Territory, she has been involved in planning, delivery and management of some of the Territory’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects and has been instrumental in securing Australian Government funding for a significant road upgrades across the Northern Territory.  

We have established the Territory Investment and Major Project Commissioners to actively pursue investment and drive major projects in the Territory. The Infrastructure NT Commissioner will ensure we build the public infrastructure needed to deliver those important job-creating projects, providing a crucial link to achieving the NT Government’s goal of a $40 billion economy by 2030.

The immediate work the Infrastructure Commissioner will undertake is:

• Build on infrastructure work that Government has already done, and have a strategic approach to creating jobs and planning for the future.
• Work in conjunction with the Major Project Commissioner to win projects and make them happen.
• Establish a strategically focussed professional team that will represent the Northern Territory in national discussions to ensure our public infrastructure requirements have Commonwealth and broader community support, including submissions to Infrastructure Australia for priority project listing;
• Develop a new Territory Infrastructure Strategy incorporating agency Strategic Infrastructure Plans, to get the right infrastructure built at the right time, in the right place to support productivity, economic growth and regional sustainability;
• Oversee business cases and concept plans for ‘shovel worthy’ government projects underpinned by appropriate community engagement and planning through the regional recovery committees.
• Review and define processes to assess and prioritise all major publicly funded infrastructure investment proposals.

Infrastructure NT will establish strong relationships at the national level with the relevant Australian Government agencies and other jurisdictions to ensure that the Territory is front and centre as Australia’s comeback capital.

Quotes from the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler:

“Quality projects that enable economic development are important to the Northern Territory’s bounce back. We are well positioned to become Australia’s comeback capital.

“Louise McCormick is an asset to the Territory, with over 20 years’ experience in the transport and infrastructure sectors, and I congratulate Louise on her appointment to the role of Commissioner for Infrastructure NT.

“Louise is a multi-award winning Chartered Engineer in both civil and structural engineering, and is well placed to lead the Infrastructure NT Commission to work with the Australian Government and private sector secure and deliver critical infrastructure development in the Territory.

“We are a Government who is doing the work and making sure the Northern Territory is positioned to win projects and investment, which is in the interests of Territorians, jobs, business and our future.”

Quotes from Infrastructure Commissioner, Louise McCormick:

“The Territory is the land of opportunity and infrastructure plays a key role in unlocking those opportunities. Focussing on strategic infrastructure planning and investment will pivot the Territory towards long-term sustainable economic and population growth.

“Working closely with potential investors, industry, the community and my colleagues across both the Northern Territory and Australian Governments will be essential to achieving the best outcomes for the Territory.’

Quotes from Infrastructure Australia CEO, Romilly Madew:

“A long-term advocate for the Territory, Louise has engaged constructively with Infrastructure Australia for several years and was a key member of the Working Group that guided the development of our new Assessment Framework for major infrastructure projects.

“As highlighted in the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan, targeted infrastructure investment and reform in the Northern Territory will be absolutely key to developing new industries, enhancing connectivity and liveability and supporting the national economic recovery effort. Louise is exceptionally well-placed to lead Infrastructure NT during this critical time.”