The Environment Centre NT is calling for Federal intervention into the regulation of faulty fuel tanks that were built by the US military in Darwin.

In March 2024 it was revealed that 11 Project Caymus fuel storage tanks were potentially built unlawfully on Darwin Harbour.

Now the ABC has revealed the fuel tanks were not designed to withstand a category three cyclone.

This isn’t just a blunder. It’s a full-scale failure from those meant to protect the public interest.

What's the risk?

A 2023 engineering report obtained by the ABC revealed that “Failure of the tanks in a cyclonic wind event could result in over 200 million litres of flammable and/or combustible liquid becoming uncontained,” the results of which could “have catastrophic consequences on people, property and the environment”.

Despite an estimated commencement date of 2023, the tanks are still not operational due to "water intrusion" in their leak detection system.

What action have authorities taken?

Construction of the tanks, which would store up to 300 million litres of military-grade jet fuel on the edge of Darwin Harbor, commenced in January 2022.

The construction was undertaken without a building permit as required under the Northern Territory’s Building Act.

No action was taken against the company for this breach - and it appears that relevant authorities are taking the same attitude to this latest flaunting of construction standards.

The Northern Territory Government has thus far not indicated any plans to apply statutory penalties to project proponent Crowley Australia Pty Ltd for its failure to acquire a building permit.

How did this happen?

The fuel storage project was subject to unacceptably little regulatory oversight, having been approved by NT authorities in 2021 following an assessment by referral - which means that an environment impact statement was never required.

The Federal environment department also concluded in 2021 that the project did not require assessment under the Federal EPBC Act.

This is despite the fact that the fuel tank site sits adjacent to areas of ecological significance - including important habitat for the critically endangered Far Eastern Curlew.

“This project is a complete debacle and is an utter failure of environmental regulation at all levels. Minister Burgoyne must immediately intervene and revoke the environmental approval and the NTEPA must order a thorough environmental audit. The safety of the people of Darwin and Palmerston, and our precious harbour, are at stake, " said Kirsty Howey, Executive Director, Environment Centre NT.