Rebuilding East Timor

 

By Cpl Jonathan Garland
AUSTRALIA is continuing to contribute to the rebuilding East Timor, a country that, despite three years of construction, is still requiring the efforts of ADF engineers.

The 5/7 Bn Gp has about 75 engineers working in the AUSBATT area on projects encompassing road works, infrastructure and humanitarian assistance.

Works Officer 5/7 Bn Engineer Gp Capt Jonathan Large said their primary task since arriving in October had been ensuring mobility in the AO.

“Primarily that means roadworks – grading, upgrading drainage and culverts and stabilising slopes above and below roadways,” he said.

“Because of the size of our group, we’ve also been able to undertake quite a lot of trade work that’s allowed us to build structures for the locals.”

The engineers are also heavily involved in the draw-down of Australian presence in East Timor, dismantling structures and removing surplus equipment.

At one border post, they are constructing replacement facilities for the East Timor Border Patrol, who will take control of the post when Australia withdraws from that point.

“Early next year we’re planning to begin construction of a major facility in Batugade and all these facilities are critical to enable the East Timorese civilian authorities to take control of their border regions.

Capt Large said the experience had been professionally challenging for the engineers, dealing with logistics and the weather.

“Being here in another country with all the issues of getting materials and working with locals has certainly provided some pretty interesting challenges.

“Added to that are some difficult soil conditions and heavy rainfall, which can be a big problem in terms of working on roads, plus building projects become unsafe – particularly in terms of power tools and generators.”

The engineer group will remain in East Timor until April, when a 45-member group with the next rotation of troops will replace them.