Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of the Special Minister of State, I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Facilities upgrade to Shoalwater Bay training area, Rockhampton, Qld.

Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to take this opportunity, having seen this motion on the Notice Paper, to have my say on behalf of the people of Central Queensland, because Shoalwater Bay is part of the electorate of Capricornia. The use of Shoalwater Bay and the prospect of increased defence activities in Shoalwater Bay following the signing of the agreement with the US armed forces are matters of interest and concern to people in my electorate. I appreciate that the works proposed under this motion—the exercise control building and the Urban Operations Training Facility—will not in themselves cause any great impact on Shoalwater Bay, and I understand that was the conclusion of the Public Works Committee following their hearings in Rockhampton earlier this year. But it is important to understand that this project will take place in the context of the proposed expansion of use of Shoalwater Bay as part of the Joint Combined Training Centre project.

The main concerns of people in Central Queensland relate to the pressure that the increased activities will put on our local infrastructure. The Livingston Shire Council in particular has made this point on many occasions to the Department of Defence. We understand that the decisions concerning Shoalwater Bay made by the federal government are made with reference to matters of national interest, but we ask that, in doing so, the defence department and the federal government take into account the interests of the local community as well. When they talk about expanding exercises in the Shoalwater Bay training area there has to be a recognition that that puts extra pressure on the infrastructure surrounding Shoalwater Bay, particularly the road infrastructure that is left for Livingston Shire Council to maintain. The council and ratepayers face increased pressure to maintain that infrastructure when it comes under greater use from military exercises.

The other concerns that have been raised relate to environmental matters. Shoalwater Bay is a very special place. It does have environmental significance, and it is very important to the people of Central Queensland that its environmental values are preserved. There have been concerns about the types of weapons that may be used during military exercises in Shoalwater Bay. I again call on the defence department to do everything it can to work with the communities adjacent to Shoalwater Bay and to do the testing that has been requested by those communities in order to allay their fears and give them reassurance that the water and soil around and within Shoalwater Bay are not unduly affected by the military activities that go on there.

There is a great deal of support within Central Queensland for the defence forces that come to use Shoalwater Bay and I would hate to see the relationship between the defence forces and the local community break down through lack of communication or a feeling that somehow the communities surrounding Shoalwater Bay are being taken for granted. There is good support within Central Queensland for what goes on there and it is important that Defence respects the interests of the local people in using Shoalwater Bay in ways that enhance our national security. Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to have my say on this. As I said, it does not appear that this particular project will have any great impact on Shoalwater Bay, but it has to be seen in the context that the use of Shoalwater Bay is being expanded.

I would like to make one point arising from the Public Works Committee report which also came up at the committee’s hearing in Rockhampton. In paragraph 1.6, under ‘Inquiry process’, the report says:

The Committee called for submissions by advertising the inquiry in The Townsville Bulletin on Saturday, 10 June 2006.

I know it is not for the minister at the table to answer for that—

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very good newspaper.

Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sure, but it is not read in Rockhampton! There were some concerns voiced at the public hearing in Rockhampton earlier this year that perhaps people were not given the best possible opportunity to take part in the inquiry process and that the consultation was not done as well as could have been. I am not sure whether that is a typo in the report, but if indeed the inquiry was advertised in the Townsville Bulletin that is quite a breakdown in communication with the people of Central Queensland who really do have a deep interest in what goes on at Shoalwater Bay. Thank you for the opportunity to bring that to the attention of the House.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Capricornia for her contribution. I am sure those on the Public Works Committee listen with interest about targeted advertising of these inquiries. I will also make sure that message is conveyed.

Harry Jenkins (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought it was a little unfair with me, as a member of the committee, in the chair!

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Perhaps you could assist in that communication exercise, Mr Deputy Speaker. The Department of Defence proposes the facilities upgrade to Shoalwater Bay training area, Rockhampton, Queensland. The proposed facilities upgrade will provide (1) an exercise control building to accommodate the significant increase in personnel and systems that are required to control large joint and combined exercises; (2) an Urban Operations Training Facility to allow combat team training for defensive and offensive operations, screens, search and rescue operations, aid to civil power and evacuation operations; and (3) a live-fire capable urban assault range, which complements the Urban Operations Training Facility. The estimated outturn cost of this proposal is $11.16 million.

In its report the Public Works Committee recommended that this work proceed, subject to the recommendations of the committee. The Department of Defence accepts and will implement those recommendations. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction could commence late this year and be completed by April next year. On behalf of the government I thank the committee for its support and I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.

On behalf of the Special Minister of State, I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Facilities for troop lift helicopter, RAAF Base Townsville, Qld.

The Department of Defence proposes the construction of facilities at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland, to support the introduction of the new troop lift helicopter. The objective of the proposal is to provide facilities and infrastructure that are critical to the initial introduction and continuing operation of the multirole helicopter 90 in Townsville. The proposed facilities and infrastructure works involve a mixture of new facilities and the adaptation and refurbishment of existing facilities. The estimated outturn cost of the proposal is $20 million.

In its report, the Public Works Committee has recommended that these works proceed. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction could commence late this year with completion in early 2008 to meet the introduction into service of the new aircraft. On behalf of the government I would like to thank the committee for its support, and I commend the motion to the House.

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a great day for Townsville. I was just indicating to the member for Dawson that she has an interest in this. With the new redistribution in Queensland, Dawson now comes well into areas in Townsville that are populated with defence families. You cannot underestimate the importance of this decision. I thank the Public Works Committee for its very positive report to the parliament today. I would make it clear, though, that while this program is referred to as something at RAAF Townsville it is actually an Army unit. It is 5 Aviation Regiment of the Australian Army. They are a lodger unit at RAAF Townsville and they are probably significantly bigger in size than the entire RAAF operations, so it is good to see the cooperation that occurs between Army and the Air Force.

This is a $20 million project ultimately to refurbish and to build new facilities to take the latest high-tech heavy troop lift helicopter in Townsville. Its key significance is that the MRH90 supports Townsville’s 3rd Brigade, the home of the ready deployment force for Australia. It is also a key enhancement because we have recently announced that Townsville is going to be the home of a third battalion. In fact it will be the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, who will join the 1st and 2nd Battalions at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. That will mean a boost of another 1,500 men and women, then all the flow-on effects from that and all the new homes in the city. It just has extraordinary ramifications for the economy but also for our garrison city.

Today’s motion through the parliament underlines the importance of Townsville as a garrison city in the Commonwealth of Australia. I know that the Defence Force will, as will our city, warmly welcome the construction of these new facilities. They will certainly very much assist and enhance Australia’s capability in rotary wing aircraft. I thank the Special Minister of State for his strong support of Townsville, I thank the Public Works Committee and I thank the government for supporting the Australian Defence Force in Townsville.

Question agreed to.