🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The Darwin ship lift project in Australia has been in development for over a decade. Originally designed to boost the local economy by facilitating ship repairs and maintenance, this ambitious project was expected to bring significant economic benefits to the Northern Territory. However, it has faced severe delays and cost overruns, leading to widespread criticism and calls for it to be halted.
The project has exceeded its initial budget by hundreds of millions of dollars. This has become a major concern for taxpayers and the government, as the financial burden continues to grow with no clear completion date in sight. Local authorities had hoped the ship lift would create jobs and attract business to the region, but the ongoing issues have cast doubt on these economic prospects.
The ship lift was intended to be the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, capable of servicing large vessels and boosting the maritime industry in Darwin. However, the technical and financial challenges have been overwhelming. Experts have pointed out that poor planning and management have contributed to the project’s current state.
There is now a debate about whether to continue investing in the project or to abandon it altogether. Supporters argue that completing the ship lift could still bring economic advantages, while opponents believe that the risks and costs outweigh the potential benefits. This situation is a significant example of how large infrastructure projects can falter without proper oversight and realistic budgeting.
The controversy surrounding the Darwin ship lift project highlights the need for more stringent project management and accountability in public spending. As the Northern Territory government faces increasing pressure from the public and stakeholders to make a decisive choice, the future of this ambitious but troubled project remains uncertain.
📝 Vocabulary
- project: a planned piece of work or activity that is completed over a period of time（プロジェクト）
例文: “The new bridge project is expected to be completed by next year.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- start a project
- project deadline
- project manager
- budget: an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time（予算）
例文: “We need to stick to the budget if we want to save money.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- budget plan
- budget constraints
- budget increase
- infrastructure: the basic physical systems of a country or community（インフラ）
例文: “Good infrastructure is essential for economic growth.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- infrastructure development
- infrastructure investment
- critical infrastructure
- oversight: the action of overseeing something（監視、監督）
例文: “The project failed due to a lack of oversight.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- governmental oversight
- oversight committee
- oversight responsibility
- stakeholder: a person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business（利害関係者）
例文: “All stakeholders were invited to the meeting to discuss the new policy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- key stakeholders
- stakeholder engagement
- stakeholder interests
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect Tense – “The project has exceeded its initial budget by hundreds of millions of dollars.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
過去から現在までの状況を示したいときに使われます。特に、ビジネスや会議で状況報告をする際に便利です。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The Darwin ship lift project has been completed successfully.
- MCQ: What was the primary goal of the Darwin ship lift project?
a) To boost tourism in the area
b) To facilitate ship repairs and maintenance
c) To create a new port for exports
d) To develop residential areas - MCQ: What is a major concern for the project according to the script?
a) Environmental impact
b) Lack of skilled workers
c) Budget overruns
d) Competition from other regions
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) To facilitate ship repairs and maintenance
- c) Budget overruns
📚 Reading Questions
- What was the intended purpose of the Darwin ship lift project?
- Why are there calls to halt the project?
- What does the word “overruns” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- To boost the local economy by facilitating ship repairs and maintenance.
- Because the project has faced severe delays and massive budget overruns.
- It means that the project has exceeded its planned budget.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
ダーウィンのシップリフトプロジェクトは、北部準州の経済を活性化するために計画されましたが、予算オーバーと計画の不備により問題が生じています。これにより、プロジェクトが中止されるべきだという意見が出ています。日本でも公共事業の管理と透明性が重視されており、このような事例から学べることは多いです。適切な管理と監視が行われないと、経済的な負担が増える可能性があるため、今後も注視が必要です。
