Infrastructure: October 2007
Hardening on its way in SA
A $623.68 million proposal for the construction of facilities at Edinburgh Defence Precinct, Adelaide, South Australia, has been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works.
The proposed works are part of the Government’s Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) initiative. HNA will increase options for Government, in terms of both the combat weight of the force that can be deployed and the duration that forces can be sustained on operations.
As part of HNA, the 7th Battalion Royal Australia Regiment (7 RAR) will be re-raised as a mechanised infantry battalion and based in Adelaide along with supporting artillery, combat engineer and logistics troops.
The project will include working accommodation, training facilities, a driver training area, a vehicle wash point and common user facilities for both Army and RAAF including a new combined mess, medical, fitness and community facilities as well as site infrastructure works.
Defence is working closely with the South Australian Government on this and other infrastructure projects at Edinburgh.
Subject to Parliamentary clearance, construction is planned to commence in late 2008 and be completed progressively during the period December 2010 through to December 2011 to enable occupation to start in January 2011.
Helicopter housing
The construction of facilities to support the new Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH90) has been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works.
In June 2006, the Government announced approval for the acquisition of 34 Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH90s) to replace the Navy’s Sea King and Army’s Black Hawk helicopter fleet that currently provides ADF troop lift, Special Forces support and maritime support capabilities.
The proposed operation, training and maintenance facilities, which are budgeted at $173.7 million, will support the requirements of the new MRH90s as well as the units and personnel operating and maintaining them.
The facilities are planned to be constructed at HMAS Albatross, RAAF Base Townsville, Army Aviation Training Centre Oakey, and Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera.
The Multi-Role Helicopter Facilities project will provide a range of new and reconfigured facilities to meet the needs of the personnel operating and maintaining these new helicopters.
Subject to clearance by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, construction on the project is expected to commence in mid 2008 and is planned to be completed by late 2010.
Where possible, existing facilities will be reconfigured and upgraded to meet the specific requirements and working conditions of the new helicopter. State-of-the-art mission planning and computer-based training facilities will be included in the project.
More than a facelift
The Government has committed $142.2 million for the redevelopment of RAAF Base Pearce adjacent to the town of Bullsbrook, near Perth in Western Australia.
The redevelopment will include a combination of new construction and refurbishment works for engineering services, a fuel farm, aircraft hangars, training and operational facilities, a combined mess, and office and living-in accommodation.
This is the first redevelopment planned for RAAF Base Pearce. It will focus on training output functions by replacing aged infrastructure and facilities to ensure that RAAF Base Pearce can support RAAF and Royal Australian Navy pilot training, as well as operational deployments and exercises.
In addition it will provide aircraft maintenance faculties to ensure that the required aircraft are available for pilot training.
Subject to Parliamentary clearance, construction worked is expected to commence around late 2007 and early 2008, with completion expected in mid 2011.
RAAF Richmond to stay
As part of its consideration of the Defence Force Disposition Program, the Federal Government has decided to retain RAAF Base Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney.
The Prime Minister previously announced, on 27 August 1998, that RAAF Base Richmond would be retained until 2010.
Since then, the future of RAAF Base Richmond beyond 2010 has been considered with a number of other Defence bases and establishments under the Force Disposition Program.
This program was established to consider proposals for base collocation aimed at creating larger, more operationally effective and cost efficient military bases around Australia.
A detailed study conducted under the Force Disposition Program demonstrated that the balance of capability, economic and current community considerations weighs heavily in favour of retaining RAAF Base Richmond.
This decision will ensure Defence’s ongoing presence in the local community whilst ensuring that the critical capability provided by the RAAF’s C-130 airlift fleet remains at RAAF Base Richmond.
RAAF Base Richmond remains the only secure point of departure in the Sydney basin. Its closure would have left Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra without secured air point departure for large scale operations.
Retention of RAAF Base Richmond will enable a continuation of support to Sydney-based specialised Defence Force units, in particular the Tactical Assault Group East, the 4th Battalion (Commando) Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR), and the Incident Response Regiment.
The Government is continuing to review the studies which were conducted in relation to the remaining bases under consideration through the Force Disposition Program.
These bases are Defence Establishment Berrimah in the Northern Territory, Borneo Barracks in South Queensland, and Elizabeth North Training Depot, Hampstead Barracks and Keswick Barracks, all in South Australia. No decision has been made yet in relation to these bases.
Copyright Australian Defence Magazine, October 2007