Venice signs up Austral Construction for early contractor works

30 August, 2021

Australian company, Austral Construction, have signed an early contractor engagement agreement with Venice Energy who are proposing to build a $200 million floating LNG import terminal at Outer Harbor, Port Adelaide.

The agreement will enable Austral to work with Venice Energy and its design consultant to develop and cost construction options for marine infrastructure and land based civil works.

The scope of work will include the supply and installation of piles, concrete to build berthing and mooring infrastructure, internal roads and paving and a small office.

Managing Director of Venice Energy, Kym Winter-Dewhirst says that Austral were chosen for their specific expertise in the type of construction works required.

“Austral have a long history of delivering similar infrastructure making them perfectly suited to deliver our requirements and they have won multiple awards for their work,” Mr Winter-Dewhirst said.

“Our companies are also aligned on our commitment to use local and indigenous suppliers and labour wherever possible. Honouring this commitment is extremely important to Venice Energy. 

“We welcome Austral to the team and look forward to commencing work, and future construction, once approvals are granted,” he said.

Managing Director of Austral Construction, Aaron Turner said his company is thrilled to have been awarded this contract.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our company and the local supply chain in both Port Adelaide and South Australia,” Mr Turner said.

“Austral is a specialist construction contractor and while we have in-house expertise and our own plant and equipment, we will be leaning into the local supplier network to deliver this work.

“In the coming months we will be working with Venice Energy to finalise the design and then develop costings and once the Project is granted approval, we launch an expression of interest to local suppliers to help deliver this project.

“At that stage we will be looking for suppliers of steel, reinforcement, concrete, plant and equipment and building suppliers. We look forward to learning more about what the local and indigenous markets have to offer, “he said.

Venice Energy’s Outer Harbor LNG import terminal will create around 350 jobs during construction and around 50 full-time jobs once the terminal is operating.
The Project will improve and diversify local gas supplies, especially during peak periods, and help underpin South Australia’s world leading renewables sector by providing firm, dispatchable energy as the state progresses towards further decarbonisation of its energy use.

Government and other approvals are expected in coming months, followed by an anticipated 12-month construction period from financial close that will see the first shipment of LNG into the terminal, and connection to the state’s gas network, by the end of 2022 to early 2023.