|
| |
Richmond stays
By FLGOFF Eamon Hamilton
Volume 49, No. 15, August 23, 2007 |
| |
|
 |
|
LETS SHAKE ON IT: Defence Minister Brendan Nelson is introduced to military working dog ‘Lucky’ by his handler, LAC Gary Thoburn, during a visit to RAAF Base Richmond to announce the government’s decision to retain the base indefinitely.
Photo by SGT William Guthrie |
|
Western Sydney can expect a continued Defence presence following the decision to retain RAAF Base Richmond.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson visited the base on August 11 to announce a government decision that the base would be kept indefinitely, following a study of ADF bases.
Prime Minister John Howard had announced in 1998 that the base would be retained until 2010. Since then, government has been considering the future of a number of Defence bases and establishments under the Defence Force Disposition Program.
It was established to consider proposals for base collocation aimed at creating larger, more operationally effective and cost-efficient military bases around Australia.
“A detailed study conducted under the Force Disposition Program demonstrated that the balance of capability, economic and current community considerations weighs heavily in favour of retaining RAAF Base Richmond,” Dr Nelson said.
The decision will ensure that the critical capability provided by the C-130 fleet remains at Richmond. The base remains the only secure point of departure in the Sydney basin and its closure would have left Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra without secured air points of departure for large-scale operations.
While 33SQN will move to RAAF Base Amberley in 2008, Mr Nelson said the government may examine the possibility of other ADF units being relocated to Richmond.
Retention of the base will also enable a continuation of support to Sydney-based units such as the Tactical Assault Group East, 4RAR, and the Incident Response Regiment.
RAAF Base Richmond was opened in 1925, making it the second Air Force base in Australia.
The base became the centre for airlift support to the ADF in the years following World War II, and can expect to retain that role with the continued presence of 37SQN’s C-130J aircraft. |
| |
|
