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Headquarters Joint Operations Command Project
(Formerly known as the Headquarters Australian Theatre Project (HQASTP) - JP8001)
In October 2001 the Government announced that a new Defence headquarters would be constructed between Queanbeyan and Bungendore, on the Kings Highway corridor.
The HQJOC Project has created a new integrated operational level joint headquarters.
The new headquarters will bring together for the first time in an integrated environment, the Chief of Joint Operations and strategic and joint staff in Canberra, Maritime, Land, Air and Special Operations staff, the Joint Operations Intelligence Centre, and 1st Joint Movement Group located in Sydney, a portion of the Headquarters Joint Logistics Command staff currently in Melbourne, and the Special Operations Commander Australia and Special Operations Headquarters currently in Sydney.
By bringing together staff and agencies at the strategic and operational level, the new Headquarters Joint Operations Command will improve the effectiveness of joint planning, the allocation of resources for military operations, and the command and control of operations.
The new headquarters complex represents a capital investment of about $300 million (expressed in 2003-04 prices) in equipment, buildings and infrastructure. The facility is designed to accommodate around 750 military and civilian Defence staff, with the flexibility to augment staff depending on the level of operational activity.
These staff are responsible for the planning and conduct of single Service, joint and combined military campaigns, operations and other designated activities.
Under current arrangements, staff with these responsibilities are dispersed - some in Russell Offices, Canberra, some in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, and others distributed through the Sydney region (including Potts Point, Garden Island, Paddington, Defence Plaza and Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains).
Bringing these functions together will improve decision-making by senior ADF commanders.
On 16 March 2004, the Minister for Defence, Senator The Hon Robert Hill, announced the start of the two-stage tender process for the new HQJOC.
The first stage of the tender process was to call for Registrations of Interest from Consortia to finance, design and construct the buildings and infrastructure components of the Project, and later undertake maintenance and service support functions.
The Invitation to Register Interest process commenced on 2 April 2004, with advertisements appearing in The Australian Financial Review, The Weekend Australian and The Canberra Times on 3 April 2004, and closed on 27 May 2004.
An Industry brief was held on 5 May 2004, with over 150 Industry representatives attending. Interest from industry in this the first significant Commonwealth private finance arrangement has been very strong.
On 1 September 2004, after a detailed evaluation by Defence of the respondents to the Invitation to Register Interest, the Minister for Defence announced the three shortlisted consortia selected to respond to the second stage of the tender process, that is the Request for Tender for the private finance components of the Project.
The final shortlisted consortia were: Australian Defence Capability Partnership (ADCP) (comprising Bilfinger Berger, Baulderstone Hornibrook, United KG); Praeco (comprising Leighton Contractors, Leighton Services, Boeing Australia) and Synersec (comprising Multiplex Group, Multiplex Infrastructure, Multiplex Constructions, Multiplex Facilities Management, Westpac Banking Corporation). For subsequent changes see "Infrastructure Consortia".
Construction related activities commenced in November 2006. Occupation of the facility is planned to commence in December 2008.
Defence finalised the contract with Praeco Pty Ltd on 30 June 2006 for the delivery of the buildings, infrastructure and services for a 30 year term. Praeco reached financial close on 28 July 2006. Defence has retained responsibility for the delivery of the command, control, communications, computing and intelligence systems.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, announced on 11 July 2008 that the new Headquarters Joint Operations Command facility at Bungendore, NSW, had been delivered to Defence by Praeco Pty Ltd on time and budget on 9 July 2008.
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Background
In December 1995, the then Minister for Defence, the Hon Ian McLachlan MP, approved revised command arrangements for the ADF with the formation of Headquarters Australian Theatre (HQAST) and the appointment of Commander Australian Theatre (COMAST) (a Two Star officer at Major General, Rear Admiral or Air Vice-Marshal rank).
As part of the revised command arrangements establishing HQAST, the three Service Environmental Commanders (Maritime Commander Australia, Land Commander Australia and Air Commander Australia) and the Special Operations Commander become Theatre Component Commanders (Maritime Component Commander, Land Component Commander, Air Component Commander and Special Operations Component Commander).
The Commander and the Headquarters Joint staff were located temporarily at HMAS KUTTABUL, Potts Point Sydney in 1996.
On 16 March 2004, following a review of operational experience, the then Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill announced new Australian Defence Force command arrangements with Joint Operations Command being formed to provide simpler and more direct command and control for Australian Defence Force operations.
Operational command of the Australian Defence Force is now executed through the Vice Chief of the Defence Force in the new role of Chief of Joint Operations. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force for the planning and conduct of Defence Force campaigns, operations and other activities as directed.
Supporting the Chief of Joint Operations is the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (previously Commander Australian Theatre), strategic and joint staff, component staff, the Joint Operations Intelligence Centre, a portion of the Joint Logistics Command staff and 1st Joint Movements Group.
HQJOC undertakes the activities previously carried out by HQAST. These have ranged from:
- supporting other Federal Government Departments on activities such as fisheries patrols in Australia' s Exclusive Economic Zone, including in the Southern Ocean;
- disaster relief within Australia and the near region;
- Defence cooperation activities with our neighbours;
- operations such as support to the restoration of law and order in the Solomon Islands and East Timor;
- support to various United Nations operations; and
- participation in large-scale military operations, such as
- East Timor;
- Afghanistan; and
- Iraq.
On 5 October 2005 Senator Hill announced further changes to ADF higher command arrangements, including a reduction in the number of staff required at the new HQ from 1185 to 750.
Last updated 15 October 2008
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