MEDIA RELEASE

DPAO 165/98

Friday August 21, 1998

DEFENCE TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE LOCATION FOR AMMUNITIONING FACILITIES

The Department of Defence today announced its intentions to further investigate options for the site of its proposed armament facilities on Australia's east coast, in line with a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works report tabled in Federal Parliament on June 30, this year.

The Public Works Committee (PWC) has asked Defence to examine an option that provides for separate locations for the explosive ordnance import and the Navy ammunitioning functions.

The PWC cited concern at the distance of Point Wilson in Victoria, from Navy's Fleet Base East in Sydney, and the East Australian Exercise Area in the waters adjacent to Jervis Bay.

Defence has begun feasibility, cost and environmental assessment studies of a site at Twofold Bay, on the NSW south east coast, as a possible site for the Navy ammunitioning facility. A report on these findings is expected to be provided to the Minister within three months.

Should the Twofold Bay findings prove in favour of the site Defence will then proceed to develop a detailed proposal for consideration by Parliament, a process likely to take about 12 months.

Another important consideration for the Twofold Bay site is the potential for use by commercial interests of any wharf or jetty required for Navy's ship ammunitioning operations.

As Twofold Bay cannot accommodate the explosives ordnance import function, the PWC has asked Defence to examine the potential for use of Port Alma near Rockhampton.

Port Alma is already used for the import of commercial explosives, and Defence will examine the site's feasiblity, cost and strategic implications and will report to the Minister within three months.

Regardless of the outcome of the Twofold Bay and Port Alma studies, the Navy's Sydney ammunitioning operation will close by the end of 1999. It is intended that the current Port Wilson facility be used as an interim arrangement until alternate facilities can be identified.

Further Information:
Dean Ferraris 02 6266 4365 (w)