As part of the $4.5 billion Enhanced Land Force initiative, around $1.25 billion will be invested for new facilities to support the re-raising of the 8th/9th Battalion at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, in Southeast Queensland.

While detailed project planning is still to be completed, it is anticipated that around $900 million of this investment will be for facilities at Gallipoli Barracks. The balance of the investment may include the provision of enhanced training facilities at existing Defence bases in New South Wales and Victoria.

Subject to Parliamentary clearance of the project, construction is expected to commence in 2009 with completion in 2014.

Prior to this work commencing there will also be a redevelopment of the base to support current units and a further $80.2 million for phase one of the redevelopment of facilities at Gallipoli Barracks.

This redevelopment will provide a new combined messing facility (servicing up to 1050 personnel), office accommodation and the upgrade to the engineering services, allowing Army to operate the base more efficiently and effectively.

The combined mess will complement the new single living-in accommodation which is being delivered through a strategic partner under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

The large capital investments will have a significant economic benefit for the Brisbane region and will be major opportunity for local skilled consultants, sub-contractors and the construction industry in general over the construction period.