Corporal Mathew Forsdick, Corporal Richard Jacobson and Leading Aircraftman Sean Grimshaw servicing one of RAAF Base Townville's fire trucks in the Special Purpose Vehicle and Fire Vehicle Maintenance section. Photo by LAC Chris Marshall

MORE than two months after RAAF Base Townsville's Combined Vehicle Maintenance Facility opened its doors, personnel at the base couldn't be happier with the new building.

Completed at a cost of nearly $9 million, the facility is part of stage one of the base's redevelopment. It provides much-needed workshop space and is a first for the Air Force, with two units housed under the one roof.

It's home to No. 323 Combat Support Squadron's Mechanical Engineering and Operational Maintenance Section and Vehicle Maintenance personnel from No. 1 Combat Logistics Squadron.

The workshop meets high Occupational Health and Safety standards by housing easily accessible eye-washes and vehicle exhaust extraction hoses.

Oil and grease guns in each bay are fed under pressure directly from a central distribution point, while a 10 tonne crane has made large jobs quick and easy.

323CSS has made the most of the new facility by assigning individual areas for each section.

With Flying Officer Adrian Tarmo and Flight Sergeant Emmanuel Andreou in charge, all sections have adapted comfortably to the new workshop.

1CLS is also enjoying its new surrounds and has moved all its vehicle maintenance to the facility. Under the guidance of Flying Officer Christiaan Meddens and Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Lever, the unit maintains all the Air Force's plant and earth-moving equipment.

By LAC Chris Marshall