Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Subject to parliamentary approval, construction will commence in early 2008 and finish by late 2011. I know that the member for Blair is very pleased to see this referral today, and I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: C-17 Heavy Air Lift Infrastructure project.

The C-17 Heavy Air Lift Infrastructure project will deliver the necessary permanent facilities and airfield pavements to support C-17 operations at its home base, RAAF Base Amberley, and expanded infrastructure at deployment bases, RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Darwin, Pearce and Townsville, to allow the large aircraft to operate effectively.

This project will allow the C-17 aircraft to provide a new responsive global airlift capability that will significantly enhance the Australian Defence Force’s ability to support national and international operations as well as major disaster relief and rescue efforts.

The expected out-turned cost of the proposal is $268.2 million, plus GST. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction will commence in early 2008 and be complete by 2011. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: HMAS Creswell redevelopment, Jervis Bay Territory.

The Department of Defence proposes to undertake a redevelopment of HMAS Creswell, Navy’s premier training institution. The works now proposed are required to overcome the limitations of current facilities to provide effective training to Navy officers and sailors to support Navy’s capability. The progression of the project will aid in Navy’s recruitment and retention.

The main components of the project include new and refurbished living-in, office and classroom accommodation, and an upgrade of engineering services. The project will also provide modernised training and physical fitness facilities to support Navy training requirements at HMAS Creswell.

The estimated out-turned cost of the proposal is $83.6 million, plus GST. Subject to parliamentary approval, the works could commence in early 2008 with the objective of having them completed by mid-2011. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Land Engineering Agency Test Services relocation, Monegeetta, Vic.

The Department of Defence proposes the relocation of Land Engineering Agency Test Services from Defence site Maribyrnong to Monegeetta Proving Ground in Victoria. The objective of this proposal is to gain advantages from the co-location of Land Engineering Agency Test Services with its existing operations at Monegeetta, and to allow the Commonwealth to dispose of the Defence site Maribyrnong property. I have recently visited Maribyrnong and I am aware of the issues in relation to disposal of that site. This certainly will allow that to occur.

The proposed project involves a mixture of refurbished and new facilities, including supporting infrastructure. The estimated out-turned cost of the proposal is $35.9 million, plus GST. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction could commence in early 2008 with completion in mid-2009. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: RAAF Base Pearce redevelopment stage 1, Pearce, WA.

The Department of Defence intends to undertake stage 1 of the redevelopment of RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia, at an estimated out-turn cost of $142.2 million, plus GST. RAAF Base Pearce is a major military air base in Western Australia. The base primarily supports flying training and additionally supports overseas deployments and transit operations. I was recently at RAAF Base Pearce and was privileged to fly with Squadron Leader ‘Homer’ Simpson to look at other defence issues that were in the vicinity. While I was there, I was certainly acutely aware of the need to do this particular work.

This is the first redevelopment planned for RAAF Base Pearce and seeks to address the aged, sub-standard and dysfunctional infrastructure and facilities, which do not comply with current standards. It will also enhance defence capability by enabling personnel mobility, morale, esprit de corps, training outcomes, attraction and retention.

The redevelopment project will involve:

• replacement of Base-wide engineering services;
• a new fuel farm;
• a new quality control centre;
• a new combined mess;
• an upgrade to the Air Movements terminal;
• upgrade to the training aircraft maintenance hangar;
• a new noise attenuated engine run-up facility for the resident training aircraft;
• new living-in accommodation for cadet pilots; and
• demolition of redundant facilities.

Subject to parliamentary approval, further design and construction will commence in late 2007 and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2011. I commend the motion to the House.

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