29/08/2026
I’ll be heading to and attending the SAME Pacific Industry Forum 2026
Honolulu from 15–17 September with my Plumbing NT GM, Alex Johnson.
We appreciate the invite by Industry Capability Network - Northern Territory (ICN NT) and Master Builders Northern Territory.
There’s a good reason Plumbing NT is attending.
We’ve spent many years supporting major contractors and Defence on some of the Northern Territory’s most complex infrastructure projects and over $2 billion in infrastructure spend in the north, including:
• US Forces Posture – supporting with Sitzler Pty Ltd across the Bradshaw and Mount Bundey training areas
• RAAF Darwin Mid-Term Refresh – supporting Laing O'Rourke
• RAAF Darwin Major Upgrades with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) – supporting SLS
• Caymus Jet Fuel Facility, East Arm – supporting Crowley
This work isn't straightforward.
It involves operating in live Defence environments and remote training areas, managing complex interfaces, logistics, security and compliance requirements, and delivering critical hydraulic and plumbing infrastructure within major programs where reliability matters.
Our role has been to support the principal contractor and Defence — bringing local knowledge, specialist capability and a team that can deliver in the Territory.
There is a bigger opportunity here.
If we want more major Defence projects to come to the Northern Territory, we need to demonstrate that the Territory has the local capability to support them.
That means having reliable contractors on the ground.
It means developing skilled people.
It means building supply chains.
It means working closely with the major contractors.
And it means giving Defence decision makers confidence that projects can be delivered successfully in the north every single time.
That’s where Plumbing NT wants to play its part.
We’re not there to replace the major contractors. We want to be the local delivery partner they know they can rely on.
The NT already has a significant pipeline of Defence investment, and the Territory's strategic importance is only increasing.
Our job is to make sure that when the next major project is being considered, there is a strong case for building it here in the Northern Territory, delivering it here and using the capability that already exists here.
That is one of the reasons I’m heading to Honolulu — to understand what is coming, build relationships with the people delivering it, and bring that knowledge back to the Territory.
More capability. More confidence. More major Defence projects delivered in the NT.
That’s good for Defence, good for the major contractors and good for Northern Australia.
Looking forward to some good conversations at SAME Pacific Industry Forum 2026. Lia Finocchiaro MLA
Sitzler Pty Ltd
Laing O'Rourke
SLS
DCOH