TEFC: The new detention centre from 700ft

I went for a flight the other day to get some pictures of Darwin from a distance and captured some other evidence that Darwin is emerging from a backwater status to an economic contributor.

The President of the United States arrives in Darwin tomorrow and I thought that seeing that all flights by non-essential aircraft are not permitted during his visit I would provide an aerial view of the surrounds of Darwin taken in very recent times.

I have marked some of the locations on a google map

I will start with the new detention centre being built out along the Channel Island road. I took quite a few pictures of the centre which is looking very nice. Here is one from the album. Click on the picture to view the entire album of shots.

New Detention Centre in Darwin

To get photographs of Darwin I had to use a 200mm lens which in a digital camera takes it out to about 300mm. I hadn't used this lens for a while and I am almost inspired to buy a 28-300 Nikkor lens with vibration reduction after seeing the shots this old lens produced.

So here is a photograph of the existing Gas Plant with Darwin City in the background. Apparently the large tank in the foreground has a floating roof that rises and falls with the gas that is stored within the tank.

From Darwin, Gas Plant, Wharf and Palmerston

Although this doesn't look like an island, this next shot is Channel Island where our power station and aquaculture research facility are. There is also a boat ramp there that will see you into the mouth of the Blackmore River quite quickly - and it is bitumen all the way. The power station is gas fired and the aquaculture centre breeds barramundi as well as exotic items like the sea cucumber and giant clams.

East Arm wharf is where our cargo and livestock shipping occurs. There has been some controversy with the temporary banning of live cattle exports which genuinely affected the livelihood of many folks. Hopefully the disruption led to a genuinely positive outcome in relation to the humane treatment of animals otherwise it will go down as a failed action on the local and international stage. A couple of cranes have fallen over or come adrift and then there was the spillage of ore into the harbour although on that one I would prefer to be in Darwin Harbour than in harbours surrounding the failed nuclear plant in Japan. The wharf will only continue to become busier with all the development that is going to happen in the resources sector.

From Darwin, Gas Plant, Wharf and Palmerston

The small island in the middle of East Arm is called Catalina Island. The Peninsula behind the island was occupied during WWII with the presence of Z Force on Catalina Island.

From Darwin, Gas Plant, Wharf and Palmerston

Site of the new INPEX project in the foreground and Darwin in the background.

From Darwin, Gas Plant, Wharf and Palmerston

Darwin in the background with the new detention centre in the foreground. Vacant plot of land is partially for the INPEX site. East Arm Wharf on the right and on the far left the edges of the existing Conoco Phillips gas plant.