Australia – Singapore Military Training Initiative | Sectors

Announced in 2015, the Australia – Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI) works to build Defence capability, enhance Australia's bilateral relationship with Singapore, and provide enduring economic benefits to Central and North Queensland.

ASMTI is a key element of the Australia – Singapore’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, outlining the long-term vision to deepen collaboration between the two countries.

On 10 December 2020, The Australian Government and the Government of the Republic of Singapore ratified the Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development in Australia. The Treaty builds on more than 30 years of Singapore's military training in Australia and underpins Singapore's investment and commitment to delivering the ASMTI.

When the ASMTI reaches maturity, scheduled for 2028, up to 14,000 Singapore Armed Forces personnel will conduct unilateral training for up to 18 weeks a year for 25 years.

Objectives

The key objectives of ASMTI are:

strengthening Singapore partnerships
enhancing and developing training areas
delivering ADF requirements
engaging local communities
developing local industry.

Training areas

Under the ASMTI, Singapore will invest in Australia’s development and enhancement of two training areas.

The training areas in Central and North Queensland will be owned and managed by the Commonwealth through the Department of Defence.

Central Queensland

The existing Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Central Queensland is being expanded to the West. The area is approximately 100 kilometres North of Rockhampton. Defence has acquired approximately 110,000 hectares of land for the expansion.

North Queensland

Defence has acquired and is designing a new training area near Greenvale in North Queensland. Defence has acquired approximately 310,000 hectares for the development of the Greenvale Training Area, approximately 215 kilometres Northwest of Townsville.

Timeline

The following activities mark ASMTI's progress and planning.

Year	Activity
2015	Announcement of Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
2016	Australia and Singapore sign Memorandum of Understanding on training area access and development.
2017	Socio-Economic Impact Assessment released. Defence announcement of intention to only purchase land from willing sellers.
2018	Appointment of Laing O’Rourke as Managing Contractor for ASMTI works in Central Queensland. Commencement of construction of Explosive Ordnance Earth Covered Storage Facility at Mt Stuart in North Queensland.
2019	Settlement with willing sellers to establish a training area near Greenvale in North Queensland. Acquisition of sufficient land near Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Central Queensland to viably expand existing training area. Commencement of environment and heritage studies to inform land management plans in Central and North Queensland. Registration of Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Darumbal Traditional Owners in Central Queensland. Commencement of early works in Central and North Queensland. Completion of Explosive Ordnance Earth Covered Storage Facility at Mt Stuart in North Queensland.
2020	Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development signed by Australia and Singapore. Appointment of of CPB Contractors Pty Ltd as Managing Contractor for ASMTI works in North Queensland. Commencement of major construction works at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
2021	Indigenous Land Use Agreements with Gudjala, Gugu Badhun, and Ewamian Traditional Owners in North Queensland, registered with Native Title Tribunal.
2022	Defence's Managing Contractor completed the design of the Greenvale Training Area (excluding Urban Operations Live Fire).
2023	Scheduled completion of Greenvale Training Area Urban Operations Live Fire detailed design.
2024	Major construction works are forecast to be completed at Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Up to 6,600 Singapore Armed Forces troops train in Central Queensland for a single nine-week period a year.
2027	Major construction works are forecast to be completed at Greenvale Training Area.
2028	Up to 14,000 Singapore Armed Forces troops train in Central or North Queensland for up to 18 weeks per year.

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Australia – Singapore Military Training Initiative