Optimised for agricultural life

By Cpl Damian Shovell

BEFORE the ADF’s $15.5 million Forward Operating Base at Moleana was handed to the Timor-Leste government, it underwent a complex redesign to fulfil its new role as an agricultural college, gaining recognition and acclaim from the UN and Timor-Leste government.

Special Representative to the Secretary- General Sukeiro Hasegawa said Australia had “exceeded UN expectations” in ensuring the base it built in 2002 was handed over in the best condition and for training Timorese staff who will manage the facility.

The base underwent an optimisation program that streamlined the sewerage, plumbing and electrical systems. Additionally, to ensure its long-term sustainability the ADF instructed a security force from the Timor-Leste police and civil security force and trained tradesmen in base maintenance requirements.

“In my view [this] has sought to provide skills to the people, to place the future of Timor-Leste in their hands ... I have been impressed by the commitment of Australia towards the long term sustainable peace and development of this country and welfare of the Timor-Leste people,” Mr Hasegawa said.

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Dr Mari Alkatiri also paid tribute to Australian National Commander in Timor-Leste Lt-Col Brian Cox, presenting him a commendation for “his dedication and exemplary performance” in ensuring the facility would be left as an asset to the Timor-Leste government.

Lt-Col Cox said he was aided in optimisation from plans left by previous rotations and said he also gained support from AUSTCARE, which approached him in gaining support for an agricultural program in neighbouring Maliana.

“I linked them up with the Timor-Leste Government’s Agricultural Minister and now there is a portion of Moleana dedicated to AUSTCARE’s agricultural research and development,” he said.

An agricultural college in Orange, NSW, is also planning to start a breeding program for livestock at the college and has donated goats to the project.

Lt-Col Cox said the long-term success of the base hinged on consultations held with the Timor-Leste government, which considered using the facility as a police or military training centre before it decided on an agricultural college.

“We embarked upon a plan for a sustainable facility that was a low-maintenance, effective but cost-efficient,” he said.

“The plan was always to hand over the base, but what as, and how we did that, was left up to the final rotation to complete. What we didn’t want to do was leave the Timorese with a base that was not economically viable.”