Page 150 - Australian Defence Magazine September 2018

INFRASTRUCTURE
SINGAPORE
military training areas in Australia for use by the SAF, but also by the ADF,” Birrer confirmed to ADM.
Training area expansion will ensure that the training areas meet the current and fu- ture needs of the ADF. For example, army is now utilising heavier, larger, and more capable platforms with enhanced weapon and sensor systems providing significantly increased range and fire power.
“There will be quite a range of activities and construction undertaken to support the development of training areas and ranges, which will help deliver very mod- ern and contemporary training outcomes in support of capability for both the ADF and the SAF.
“It is critical that the design and planning of these training areas is done in a way that is also adaptable to exploiting emerging capa- bilities and technologies. There will also be the opportunity to introduce some new tech- nologies, which could include the integration of digital communications, augmented real- ity, autonomous robotics and simulation into range development” Birrer added.
In North Queensland the new training area near Townsville will be located on a new site in Greenvale, rather than an ex- pansion of the existing Townsville Field Training Area. While the Greenvale site has been identified in initial assessments as the one best suited to the ADF and SAF’s needsbothnowandintothefuture,De-
SWBTA provides access to a range of training options.
fence has identified alternative areas near Ravenswood or Pentland, should Green- vale not prove feasible.
Defence has provided offers to pur- chase land from willing sellers in both the Greenvale and Shoalwater Bay regions. These offers are now under consideration by the landowners.
“We will continue to work with willing sellers throughout 2018,” Birrer said.
Local Industry Capability Plans
Both infrastructure projects are maxi- mising opportunities for local businesses to get involved in construction works. The Managing Contractors for both
projects are required to develop a Local Industry Capability Plan (LICP) to en- sure that local businesses in the region can take advantage of the opportunities arising from these projects.
“The construction works will not just deliver enhanced training areas, but will bring significant economic opportunities to Central and North Queensland region, creating local jobs and investment and supporting strong local industry near the training areas,” Birrer said.
Through the implementation of its LICP, the FK Gardner and Downer joint venture for the SWBTA remediation proj- ecthascommittedtosourcing80percent
INDIGENOUS LEAD FOR GARDEN ISLAND REFURB
MINISTER for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Indig- enous Affairs Nigel Scullion have launched an Indigenous joint-venture to deliver the $213 million Bayinguwa critical wharf works project at Garden Island Defence Precinct, the RAN’s Sydney base.
The Bayinguwa Delivery Team is a joint venture between Pacific Services Group (PSG) Holdings and Lendlease. PSG Holdings, an Indigenous owned SME, managed the design of the works.
“This project was announced by the Prime Minister in his 2018 Closing the Gap speech. ‘Bayinguwa’ is the Aboriginal name for Garden Island in Sydney,” Minister Payne said.
The Garden Island Bayinguwa Delivery Team will be re- sponsible for managing the demolition of two deteriorated wharves and constructing a single new wharf
“The engagement of the Bayinguwa Delivery Team is first- and-foremost about delivering high quality works for Garden Island. The Garden Island Bayinguwa Delivery Team will be responsible for managing the demolition of two deteriorated wharves and constructing a single new wharf in their place.
“These works are essential to ensure the RAN can safely berth and maintain its ships at Garden Island, which is the major home-port on the east coast of Australia.”
“The Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) has super- charged the Indigenous business sector, driving rapid growth in the demand for Indigenous goods and services across a diverse variety of industries,” Minister Scullion said.
“The IPP has resulted in more than 1,000 Indigenous busi- ness across the country winning contracts worth over $1.084 billion since the IPP’s commencement in July 2015, up from just 30 Indigenous businesses winning $6.2 million in 2012-13.”
“All contracts under the IPP are delivered on a value for money basis, meaning the Commonwealth does not pay more for the goods and services it would otherwise be pro- curing.”
“The average Indigenous workforce of IPP firms is 50 per cent, compared to non-Indigenous businesses which have an average Indigenous workforce of 0.7 per cent, meaning if we get more Indigenous Australians into business we get more Indigenous Australians into work.”
The total project value is $213 million and construction is due to commence in September 2018 for completion in February 2022.
It is anticipated that the project will generate up to 150 jobs at the peak of construction with opportunities avail- able for local industry and Indigenous involvement.
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