Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney has today welcomed Parliament’s approval of a $752 million upgrade of Defence logistic bases around Australia.
Senator Feeney said the Defence Logistics Transformation Program will result in savings and a better logistic network.
“This move means Defence will see the same outcomes for a lower cost. The program will modernise and consolidate logistic bases across the country, resulting in a saving of approximately $350 million, as well as ongoing savings from greater efficiencies,” Senator Feeney said.
“It is also one of our key reform initiatives from the 2009 Defence White Paper. It is an initiative that will deliver a modern, robust and efficient logistics system to support the Australian Defence Force.
“Currently, the Defence storage network operates from outdated infrastructure spread across 201 warehouses in 24 locations. This upgrade will see these sites consolidated to seven primary sites and nine specialty sites.
“The money will also be a good boost for industry, with significant opportunities for sub-contractors and the construction industry over the next three years.”
Warehouses and maintenance facilities will be constructed around Australia including at Moorebank in western Sydney, Ipswich and Townsville in Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Perth in Western Australia, Adelaide in South Australia and Wodonga in regional Victoria.
Construction is expected to commence in early 2013 at Moorebank, Wadsworth Barracks and Lavarack Barracks, with other sites to follow in the through to mid-2013. All construction works are expected to be completed by 2015.
Scope of works
The scope of works for each of the seven logistic units are:
1. Defence National Storage and Distribution Centre, Moorebank, NSW
i. a new entry precinct;
ii. headquarters facility;
iii. general storage warehouse;
iv. loan and repair pool warehouse;
v. joint operations storage warehouse;
vi. aerial delivery equipment storage and maintenance facility;
vii. secure storage and maintenance facility;
viii. land material maintenance workshop;
ix. dangerous goods storage facility;
x. hardstand; and
xi. supporting site works and engineering services.
2. Joint Logistics Unit (South Queensland), RAAF Base Amberley, Qld
i. headquarters facility;
ii. combined general storage warehouse and cargo consolidation point;
iii. loan and repair pool warehouse;
iv. dangerous goods store;
v. secure storage and maintenance facility;
vi. land material maintenance workshop;
vii. hardstand; and
viii. supporting site works and engineering services.
3. Joint Logistics Unit (North Queensland), Lavarack Barracks, Qld
i. headquarters facility;
ii. general storage warehouse;
iii. loan and repair pool warehouse;
iv. land material maintenance workshop;
v. dangerous good store;
vi. hardstand and vehicle shelters;
vii. foodstuffs facility;
viii. mounting base; and
ix. supporting site works and engineering services.
4. Joint Logistics Unit (North), Robertson Barracks, NT
i. headquarters facility;
ii. general storage warehouse;
iii. loan and repair pool warehouse;
iv. land material maintenance workshop;
v. secure storage and maintenance facility;
vi. dangerous goods store;
vii. regional clothing/kitting store;
viii. mounting base;
ix. hardstand and vehicle shelters;
x. small quantity facility;
xi. new western access road and entrance; and
xii. supporting site works and engineering services.
5. Joint Logistics Unit (South), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA
i. headquarters facility;
ii. loan and repair pool warehouse;
iii. electronic instrument and radio repair;
iv. supporting site works and engineering services; and
vi. ultra wide band test facility.
6. Joint Logistics Unit (West), Palmer Barracks and HMAS Stirling, WA
i. electronic instrument and radio repair facility;
ii. indoor weapon test fire facility;
iii. hardstand; and
iv. climate controlled storage.
7. Joint Logistics Unit (Victoria), East Bandiana, VIC
i. combined loan and repair pool, disposals and slow moving stock warehouse;
ii. weapon storage and repair facility;
iii. vehicle shelters;
iv. improvements to barracks entry precinct;
v. communications and IT; and
vi. supporting site works and engineering services.