Expansion planned for Cultana

CULTANA Training area, located between Port Augusta and Whyalla, in northern South Australia is set to triple in size within the next five years.

The Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill said the area would provide better training options for the Australian Defence Force.

“Defence officials will shortly enter detailed discussions with current pastoral leaseholders and traditional landowners before recommending a final proposal to Government,” Senator Hill said.

The planned expansion would increase the scope of combined arms training for large mechanised formations, and allow for larger joint live firing exercises, provide a larger area to manoeuvre the new Abrams tanks as well as the new generation of Army assets such as the new Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and Australian Light Armoured vehicles (ASLAVs).

In recent years 1 Bde from the Northern Territory and 9 Bde from South Australia have used the Cultana Training Area for live firing exercises and light armoured vehicle operations.