HMAS Creswell on the South Coast of NSW is one of the facilities to undergo facilities upgrade work in the near future.

Recent announcements by the Minister for Defence have signaled a significant boost in Defence facilities work across the country.

From RAAF Base Pearce in the West to HMAS Creswell on the South Coast of NSW, major facilities and infrastructure work is planned, along with support for the C-17 Heavy Air Lift capability that includes work at Amberley, Edinburgh, Darwin, Pearce and Townsville. The Mulwala Propellant Facility, Defence Force School of Signals Redevelopment and work at Robertson Barracks also will go ahead.

Some $142.2 million has been allocated for the redevelopment of RAAF Pearce adjacent to the town of Bullsbrook, near Perth in Western Australia. The redevelopment includes 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. Significant business opportunities exist for small and medium sized enterprise, with construction worked expected to commence in late 2007 and early 2008, and completion planned for mid 2011.

Meantime, the redevelopment of HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay will include provision of new and refurbished training facilities, office, classroom, working and living-in accommodation, and upgraded engineering services. The redevelopment will focus on the training output functions at HMAS Creswell including extensive upgrades of the RAN School of Survivability and Ship Safety and the RAN College. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2008, with a completion date in mid 2011.

A commitment of $268.2 million has been made for the delivery of facilities and infrastructure to support the new C-17 Heavy Air Lift capability.
The C-17 Infrastructure project is aimed at delivering the necessary permanent facilities and airfield pavements to support C-17 operations at its home base, RAAF Amberley, and expanded infrastructure at deployment bases RAAF Edinburgh, Darwin, RAAF Pearce and Townsville, to allow the large aircraft to operate effectively.

This project will generate a significant amount of short-term employment opportunities for skilled consultants, sub-contractors and construction workers in each of the five regions that encompass the home and deployment bases. Construction is planned to start in early 2008 and is also expected to be complete by 2011.

The proposed refurbishment of facilities for the Defence Force School of Signals, at Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria, is budgeted at $101.3 million and will upgrade facilities required to train Defence personnel in communications and information systems.

The project includes the construction of new working and teaching facilities, the refurbishment of some existing facilities and the construction of new living-in accommodation rooms for long-term trainees. Construction is planned to start in early 2008 and is expected to be completed in late 2009.

Robertson Barracks, near Darwin, will also benefit from over $72 million in Defence facilities projects.

The Robertson Barracks Redevelopment project will go ahead at a cost of $30.2 million and the project will be combined with the $35.2 million Hardened and Networked Army project (also at Robertson Barracks), and the $6.7 million Robertson Replacement Tank Facilities project to form a single program of works to maximise efficiencies in management and delivery.

The Robertson Barracks Redevelopment project will provide new and upgraded facilities to better accommodate existing units which have expanded in recent years. The project will include new working accommodation, vehicle shelters, Q-stores, armouries and training facilities.

The Robertson Replacement Tank Facilities project will deliver facilities to support the new Abrams tank fleet. The project will include new parking and hangars for heavy tank transport vehicles, modifications to existing workshops and upgrades to the Mt Bundey firing range.

The Hardened and Networked Army project at Robertson Barracks will involve the provision of new facilities to support the Army’s Hardened and Networked Army initiative. The project will include working accommodation, equipment stores and vehicle shelters.

Detailed design for the project will commence in early 2008 and construction is planned to be complete by 2010.

The Commonwealth has also signed a contract with Bovis Lend Lease for the upgrade of the propellant manufacturing facility at Mulwala, NSW.
The $263 million contract will provide for technology transfer, design and construction of the new propellant manufacturing plant and supporting infrastructure. The funding will also allow for performance testing of the new plant and training of the workforce to run the new facility.

Up to 250 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase of the project with about $150 million of work available to Australian industry during design and construction. Construction is expected to commence in mid-2008 and the new plant is scheduled to become operational in 2012.