Viva Energy has reinforced its position as Australia’s leading fuel supplier in the Northern Territory, delivering on its commitment to national fuel security while creating lasting positive impacts in the communities where it operates.
At the official launch of Tiwi Port Marine in early May, Viva Energy CEO Scott Wyatt joined Tiwi leaders and government representatives to celebrate the return of port and fuel assets to local Indigenous ownership. The outcome of a complex administration process, this commercial agreement, supported by Viva Energy and the Commonwealth Government, places self-determination at its core.
Under the partnership, Tiwi Port Marine owns the fuel facility and Viva Energy operates it. A portion of revenue will be directed back to the Tiwi-led organisation once key capacity milestones are reached. This marks a significant milestone in enabling greater local control and economic participation.
“Viva Energy is proud to have supported this unique partnership that returns control of vital infrastructure to the Tiwi community,” said Mr Wyatt. “It reflects our belief in creating shared value, combining commercial success with community empowerment.”
During the event, Mr Wyatt also announced the three-year extension of Viva Energy’s national partnership with CareFlight.
Since the partnership began in 2022, Viva Energy’s support has enabled CareFlight to participate in more than 400 helicopter missions, helping hundreds of patients in remote regions of the Northern Territory. The collaboration has also supported the delivery of more than 70 training courses for over 700 participants, and provided six scholarships and six traineeships to increase First Nations participation in healthcare.
The renewed partnership will expand access to life-saving services via the Darwin-based CareFlight Helicopter Rescue Service and broaden the reach of community education programs across the Territory. It will also include community consultation on Melville Island to assess the potential for a dedicated on-country CareFlight role, allowing for deeper local engagement with the life-saving service.
Viva Energy also continues to play a key role in improving community safety and wellbeing through the supply of Low Aromatic Fuel (LAF), in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Delivering up to 35 million litres annually across the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, this initiative has contributed to reducing volatile substance misuse in regional and remote areas, particularly in First Nations communities.
“Our work in the Northern Territory reflects the mutual benefit of working closely with the communities we operate in,” Mr Wyatt said. “Whether it’s delivering fuel security, improving health access or creating employment pathways, we’re proud to support stronger, more resilient communities.”
Background
Melville Islands
Melville Island (Tiwi: Yermalner) is an island in the eastern Timor Sea, 80km North West of Darwin. Along with Bathurst Island and nine smaller uninhabited islands, it forms part of the group known as the Tiwi Islands, which are under the jurisdiction of the Northern Territory in association with the Tiwi Land Council as the regional authority. The Tiwi Islands are controlled by eight clans, all of which will benefit from this deal, with the land ultimately inalienable from the indigenous people, per the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
Tiwi Port Marine and the fuel facility
Located at South Barlow Point, 63 nautical miles north of Darwin, Port Melville offers a security regulated port approved by the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Port Melville is a multi-user facility supporting the Northern Territory oil and gas industry, marine transport industry and local Tiwi community through the provision of a port facility and ancillary services.
The Tiwi Port Marine fuel facility consists of three vertical storage tanks with the capacity to hold up to 30 million litres of fuel. The facility also has a motor control centre room, dispensing pump skid, metering skid, wastewater system, slops tank, fire protection and a light vehicle refuelling system.
Viva Energy’s full Reconciliation Action Plan can be viewed here: www.vivaenergy.com.au/sustainability/community/supporting-first-nations-peoples.
The RAP is part of Viva Energy’s broader community program which aims to have a positive impact in the communities where it operates.
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About CareFlight
CareFlight is an Australian aeromedical charity established in 1986. It is the primary aeromedical, search and rescue service in the Top End of the Northern Territory and delivers a broad range of services, including emergency rescue, patient care and transport. CareFlight’s mission is to save lives, speed recovery, and serve the community by taking hospital-level care directly to patients. CareFlight doctors and nurses use helicopters, turbo-prop and jet aircraft, and road vehicles across Australia and internationally. Our medical teams are specially trained to care for seriously injured people at the scene of accidents and critically ill patients requiring specialist hospital transfers.
About Viva Energy
Viva Energy (ASX: VEA) is a leading convenience retailer, commercial services and energy infrastructure business, with a history spanning more than 120 years in Australia. The Group operates a convenience and fuel network of almost 900 stores across Australia and supplies fuels and lubricants to a total network of nearly 1,500 service stations.
Viva Energy owns and operates the strategically located Geelong Refinery in Victoria, and operates bulk fuels, aviation, bitumen, marine, chemicals, polymers and lubricants businesses supported by more than 20 terminals and about 80 airports and airfields across the country. www.vivaenergy.com.au