Leighton Contractors MD Craig Laslett.

Construction giant Leighton has been awarded a $126 million contract by JKC Australia LNG for one of the building packages at the Ichthys LNG Project onshore facilities operations complex in Darwin.

The works package includes a 12-month design and procurement period, followed by a 21-month construction period to deliver an operations complex area including operations office, central control building and fire station, training and canteen facility, warehouses, workshops, laboratory, guardhouse and associated infrastructure.

"To be awarded another package on this major project demonstrates our expertise in delivering construction packages in the oil and gas sector," says MD Craig Laslett.

Project mobilisation for the engineering and procurement stages will commence almost immediately, with on-site construction due to start in July 2013 and be completed in May 2015.

At peak production, it is expected Leighton Contractors will employ more than 150 workers, with most sourced locally.