Regional Priorities: Expanding the Australian Defence Force presence in TNQ Date: 06 March 2012 Advance Cairns Position Advance Cairns is seeking government commitment and action to increase the presence of the Australian Defence Force in Far North Queensland (FNQ). We believe that there is a strong strategic 'business case' for Defence to continue to invest in this region both in the short and long-term, particularly with regard to: Expanding HMAS Cairns to maximise the number of proposed Offshore Combatant Vessels (OCV's) and replacement Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels based in this region; Increasing 51st Battalion presence and capabilities; Developing the region as a Centre of Excellence in specialist defence activities; and Becoming a future base for Landing Helicopter Deck (LHD) vessels. The strategic benefits of this region are outlined in detailed submissions that were provided to the ADF Posture review team in September 2011 and January 2012, which are included as appendices to this paper. The interim ADF Posture Review Progress report, which was publically released on 30 January 2012, noted that, “Defence to plan to expand the capacity of bases at Darwin and Cairns to accommodate the OCV and replacement LCH vessels. The scale and cost of any expansion at Darwin and Cairns would depend on the final size of the OCV”. This region is seeking to maximise the number of these vessels based out of HMAS Cairns. We also understand that there is a strong likelihood the new Landing Helicopter Deck (LHD) vessels will be initially based in Sydney when these vessels enter service in 2014-15. We believe there is a strong case for at least one of these vessels to be ultimately based at HMAS Cairns. The reason for basing the majority of the OCV and LCH vessels in Cairns and the relocation of the LHD to the HMAS Cairns base are: The existing naval base and infrastructure has the capacity to grow to accommodate these vessels in a cost effective manner; This region has the largest marine services industry in northern Australia and could be trained and developed to support and sustain the LHD's; The region has the capacity to become the Centre of Excellence for OCV and LCH vessels; This region has a 'clean harbour' that will not be affected by a busy minerals port; Close proximity to Townsville and Darwin, which would enable the LHD's to 'steam' to both locations from Cairns within an acceptable timeframe to allow the Army to mobilise for missions; and This region’s living standards are considered some of the best in the country as a high quality and cosmopolitan lifestyle is coupled with affordability making it a desirable place to live and to attract and retain personnel. Page 2 This region has also identified a series of shorter-term opportunities that are outlined below that we believe could significantly reduce costs for the ADF: Develop Cairns as a Centre of Excellence for servicing patrol boats, including providing a home port for the fleet, repair & maintenance, training & education; Relocation of the Hydrographic Survey Unit (currently in Wollongong) - including ADF personnel and associated civilian personnel (mainly cartographers & meteorologists) to be reconsolidated with the rest of Defence's hydrographic functions in Cairns; Relocation of some aspects of Department of Defence 'Director of Indigenous Affairs Unit' - ADF/APS personnel dealing directly with Indigenous engagement issues across Northern Australia. Department of Education Employment & Workplace Relations and the Indigenous Coordination Centres have established a precedent for this type of Commonwealth relocation in Indigenous program areas; Expansion of the Defence Indigenous Development Program to include investment in residential & educational facility at 51st Battalion enabling greater numbers to be recruited, trained and employed by ADF whilst also saving costs on the current short- term accommodation leasing models; Identification and increased use of Indigenous Land for Defence training exercises as a mechanism for positive economic development in communities; Relocation of the Defence Language Centre (currently in Laverton) to take advantage of the concentration of language teaching expertise in our region; Relocation of the Army Malaria Institute from Enoggera Barracks in central Brisbane to Cairns. With the main areas of research for the Institute including prevention and treatment of vector borne disease, it is a natural fit to share in the world leading vector borne research being conducted at James Cook University (JCU); Relocation of the Defence Force Dentistry unit to be more closely aligned with JCU's centre of excellence in dentistry and provision of remote dentistry services. JCU has recently constructed world class facilities, which opened in 2011. In addition, a new state of the art building to house the Tropical Queensland Centre for Oral Health has recently been completed in early 2012 adjacent to the Dentistry Building; Increase the use of our region for training & exercise agreements with PNG, Singapore, Malaysia and other Pacific Islands to capitalise on our similar tropical climates and the culturally sensitive learning environment we can offer in our region; and Develop a co-located Centre of Excellence in Disaster Management building on the existing Woree Emergency Management Centre (not an ADF asset) or in the adjacent school for Military use during a major domestic natural disaster event. Advance Cairns seeks commitment and support by the Queensland Government to: lobby the Australian Government to expand HMAS Cairns to maximise the amount of OCV, LCH and LHD vessels in this region; allocate resources to allow the planning to occur for the expansion of HMAS Cairns, in consultation with key stakeholders; and lobby the Australian Government to assess the ‘business case’ associated with establishing or relocating the shorter-term opportunities for this region: Contact: Stewart Christie, Chief Executive Officer 51 The Esplanade, Cairns p +61 (0)7 4080 2905 e [email protected] Appendix 1 – ADF Posture Review Addendum - 18 January 2011 18 January 2012 Ben Coleman Assistant Secretary ADF Posture Review Strategic Policy Division Department of Defence [email protected] Dear Ben, Further to Advance Cairns’ submission to the ADF Posture Review team provided in September 2011, we would like to provide some further supporting information as an addendum to the original submission, particularly given the onset of the tropical cyclone season and the December 2011 cyclone crossing near Darwin. The addendum provides further supporting information in relation to the following items: 1. The risk of Cairns Port being impacted by cyclones compared to other naval bases located in Northern Australia; 2. The preparedness of HMAS Cairns and the Port of Cairns for cyclonic events; 3. Fuel storage capacity at HMAS Cairns and associated shelf life; 4. The tidal range of Cairns as opposed to other Ports in Northern Australia and the potential operational impacts on a naval base 5. The key liveability benefits with Cairns compared to other regions. The following provides a brief response to each of the above items in similar numbering sequence: Response to Item 1: Advance Cairns has commissioned Stephen M. Turton, PhD, Professor of Physical Geography at James Cook University to provide a brief report on the impact of tropical cyclones in this region. The report is titled, Tropical Cyclones in northern Australia - distribution, frequency and intensity and potential impacts, which is attached. The purpose of the report was to assess the impact of cyclones on this region compared to other regions in Australia and concludes that: -2- “.. Cairns has attracted considerable media attention with regard to cyclonic events in recent years with Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011, which were both 1 in 70 year events for the section of coast between Cooktown and Ingham (Turton, 2012). During this period there have been a number of other significant cyclonic events that have impacted Western Australia, Northern Territory (including December 2011) and other locations in north and central Queensland. It is clear from the data that the Cairns region is at a lower risk from cyclones and particularly the impact of storm surges, than other locations in northern Australia where existing coastal Defence assets are currently located or potentially being considered for development or expansion. Furthermore, both Cyclone Larry and Yasi passed a considerable distance to the south of Cairns, which due to the nature of a cyclone, had a more damaging impact in those areas with minimal impact on Cairns. Recent research by Turton (2012) has shown than in the past 60 years, the vast majority of severe tropical cyclones impacting on the region between Cooktown and Ingham have crossed to the south of Cairns, with a concentration in the Cassowary Coast area (Innisfail to Cardwell)”. In the Southern Hemisphere the winds in a cyclone spiral around the eye of a cyclone in a clockwise direction and consequently the greatest impact of the wind and intense rainfall, is generally felt by those regions in the south west quadrant of the cyclone. This occurred following Cyclone Larry and Yasi and as a result had a more pronounced effect on the towns and cities to the south of this region. Response to Item 2 The preparation for the wet season and potential cyclonic events is an accepted part of life in Northern Australia like bush fires and other natural events, which occur and need to be planned for in southern Australia. This region is recognised for its capability and capacity as a world class centre of excellence in disaster management for such events in tropical climates. The Port of Cairns, the Regional Harbour Master and the HMAS Cairns Base Commander has extensive management and contingency plans in place that are tried and tested to prepare for and mitigate the potential impact of cyclonic events on the local marine industry and naval base.