Mobile User Objective System Ground Station

Mr Melham asked the Minister for Defence in writing, on 14 May 2008:

In respect of the project to establish a satellite ground station at Geraldton in Western Australia for the United States Department of Defense’s Mobile Users Objective System: (a) what is its current status; (b) when will construction of the ground station commence; (c) can he confirm how many United States contractors are/will be involved in (i) construction and (ii) operation of the ground station; (d) how many Australian contractors are/will be involved in (i) construction and (ii) operation of the ground station; (e) what costs will be borne by the Government as part of this project; and (f) when will the ground station become operational.

Mr Fitzgibbon – The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1. The project is currently in the design phase and is awaiting approval from the United States Government to commence the initial ground work.
2. July or August 2008.
3.  
   1. The United States Navy, as the project owner of the Mobile Objective User System, has contracted Boeing Australia to provide construction services for the ground station at Geraldton.  Boeing has sub-contracted Gutheridge, Haskins and Davies (GHD) for the construction services.  Fewer than
      20 United States staff will be involved in construction of the antennas.
   2. The Mobile User Objective System Ground Station will be unmanned and will require only call-out contractor maintenance support.
4.  
   1. There is currently approximately 70 Australian full-time and part-time contractors working on the design phase of the Mobile User Objective System.  Up to approximately 100 Australian contractors will be used during the construction phase.
   2. See (c) (ii).
5. All costs for the Mobile User Objective System Ground Station will be borne by the United States.
6. Current planning has the ground station operational by 2011.

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