IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer & Human Rights Activist
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 May 2025
National Peace Group, the Independent and Peaceful Australia (IPAN) has slammed what they say is a ‘hands off’ approach to American military activities in the top end, amid revelations that a significant infrastructure project for storing hazardous materials does not meet construction standards to withstand a category Three cyclone.
The Project Caymus tanks, at East Arm on Darwin Harbour, in March this year, were revealed to have been constructed unlawfully, without a building permit.
Since then, Larrakia Traditional Owners have pointed to the project’s discharge of unfiltered test water into the harbour, without a Waste Discharge License from the NT Environmental Protection Authority (NTEPA).
This week, an ABC investigation reported that the tanks were built to inadequate plans which were further altered to reduce the tanks’ wind durability below category three cyclone standards.
Mr Justin Tutty, a spokesperson for IPAN, warns that ‘this compounded regulatory vacuum exposes a ‘hands off’ approach taken to various risks posed by the growing USA military presence in the Top End’.
‘This big project didn’t just miss filling in a form or two’ stated Mr Tutty. ‘The project proceeded over several years, under multiple project managers, apparently free of any relevant regulatory guidance’, he said.
This lack of regulatory guidance has now resulted in 11 huge leaky fuel tanks at the port that won’t stand up to a medium range cyclone. All Territorians should be extremely concerned about this’, said Mr Tutty.
According to Mr Tutty, the bilateral Force Posture Agreement gives life to a list of ‘special facilities and areas’ over which the USA maintain ‘access and control’.
‘Because the special facilities and areas list is a secret list, we don’t know whether the fuel tanks site is included, but that might explain how appropriate regulation was so flagrantly avoided’, said Mr Tutty.
The USA military presence in the top end has grown steadily since President Obama came to Darwin in 2011.
Mr Tutty claims the compounded failures at the tank farm illustrate the way other risks of the buildup are being handled.
‘Does anyone believe we are doing better at managing the impact of exercises? the risk of sexual assault by visiting military personnel?[1], the presence of illegal weapons? the risk of non-strategic conflict?’ asked Mr Tutty.
‘The Territory needs responsible local authorities to stand up for Australia: to set some boundaries for the foreign military presence and guarantee Australian law will prevail in every appropriate circumstance’ concluded Mr Tutty.
ENDS
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For Media Interviews: Justin Tutty 0424 028 741
IPAN Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow 0403 611 815
Bio: Justin Tutty is a Darwin-based anti-nuclear activist and founding member of IPAN
[1] https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/us-marines-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-women-while-stationed-in-the-northern-territory/if62on5oohttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-15/investigations-dropped-into-darwin-based-us-marines/9426678