Some $49.8 million is to be spent on the redevelopment of the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin in the Northern Territory.

The RAAF Base Darwin Redevelopment Stage 2 will deliver new facilities and infrastructure upgrades for the base.

RAAF Base Darwin is a strategic Defence facility enabling the ADF to embark and disembark from operations overseas. The base is also an important staging post and provides significant support to exercises on a regular basis. To permit continued support of these operations, new and upgraded facilities are required to improve operational performance, maintain operational capability and to rectify identified occupational health and safety and environmental deficiencies.

Construction of RAAF Base Darwin commenced in the 1940s. A major expansion occurred in the 1950s and a significant number of these facilities are still in use. The ability of some of these facilities to meet the capability needs of the Air Force is now limited.

Some of these shortfalls were rectified by the RAAF Base Darwin Redevelopment Stage 1 which was completed in early 2005, and the Stage 2 redevelopment will rectify those deficiencies not addressed by Stage 1. This includes office accommodation, a mechanical workshop, fuel tanker wash bay and a new fuel farm and associated reticulation.

The project will generate employment and business opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises in Darwin and will not impact on the operation of commercial air traffic.

Subject to Parliamentary clearance, detailed design for the project will commence in September 2008 and construction is planned for completion by September 2011.

In addition to this, it has also been announced that the C-17 Heavy Air Lift Infrastructure Project, has been recommended to proceed. The works are valued at $268.2 million and include new facilities and infrastructure. Aircraft aprons, a headquarter building, an air movements terminal, a C-17 simulator precinct and a warehouse will be provided at the aircraft’s home base, RAAF Base Amberley.

Aircraft pavements, air movement terminals and infrastructure will also be provided at RAAF Bases Darwin, Edinburgh, Pearce and Townsville, where the C-17s will operate.

The provision of this infrastructure will enhance the operational capability of C-17 aircraft and increase the Australian Defence Force’s ability to rapidly deploy military troops and equipment for military operations or disaster relief efforts. Construction will commence in early 2008.