,

Parliamentary Paper No. 208/1976

The Parliament ofthe Commonwealth ofAustralia

DEVELOPMENT OF NAVY SUPPLY CENTRE AND ARMY WORKSHOP FACILITY

Defence Estahlishment, Zetland, N.S.W.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

(First Repon of 1976)

Broughr up and ordered (0 IHt printed26 August /976

The Acting Commonweallh Govemmenl Printer Canberra 1977 1'----

MEMBERS OF 1HE PARLIAMENTARY STANDI G COMMITTEE ON fUBue WORKS (TwENTY-FOURTH COMMITIEE)

HON. CHARLES ROBERT KELLY, M.P.(Chairman) LEONARD KEITH JOHNSON, E5Q.. M.P. (Vice-Chairman)

Senate House ofRepresentatives Senator BERNARD FRANCIS KILGARIFF MELVILLE HAROLD DUNGEY, EsQ., M.P. Senalor JEAN ISABEL MELZER ALBERT WILLIAM JAMES, EsQ., M.P. Senator HAROLD WILUAM YOUNG JAMES LESLIE McMAHON, EsQ., M.P. PERCIVAL CLARENCE MILLAR. EsQ.. M.P.

EXTRACT FROM THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESE TATIVES. No. 32, DATED 26 MAY 1976 6. PUBUC WORKS COMMITTEE-REFERENCE OF WORK-DEFENCE ESTABUSHMENT. ZETLAND. N.5.W.: Mr McLcay (Minister for Construction), pursuant to notice, moved~That, in accordance with the provisions oftbe Public Works Committee Act 1969-1974, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee OD Public Works for investigation and report: Dev~lopm~nt ofa navy supply ttntre and army workshop facility at d~f~no: eslablishm~nt, Zelland, NS.W. Mr McLeay p~nt~d plans inconn~ction with th~ proposed work. Qu~stion-pul and passed. CONTENTS

Paragraph The Reference I The Committee's Investigation 3 Background 6 The Need Existing facilities II Committee's conclusion 14 The Proposal ..... II The site and eJtisting buildings 16 Utilisation ofexisting buildings 17 Committee's conclusion 21 Construction Existing buildings 26 New building . 27 Electrical services 28 Hydraulicscrvices 30 Mechanical services 33 Fire protection provisiol15 41 Civil services .... 49 Fencing ..... l3 Landscaping .... 14 Committee's conclusion II Environmental aspects l6 Program .... l7 Estimate ofCost .... 18 Recommendations and Conclusions 19

lli Hl~ '71_2 I

WITNESSES

Coombes, B. 8., Esq., Project Manager, Department ofConstruction, Tower Building, Australia Square, Sydney, New South Wales Crossley, Commodore W. 1., Project Director, Navy Supply Centre, 893-931 South Dowling Street, Zelland, New South Wales Heather, W. G., Esq., Superintendent, Supply Adminisuation (Civil), c/o Department of Defence (Navy), P.O. Box 706, Darlinghurst, New South Wales King, J. c.. Esq., Assistant Director of Engineering, Department of Con­ struction, P.O. Box 2807AA, Melbourne, Victoria Macbride, Colonel D. 1., Office ofthe Chief Engineer, 2nd Military District, Victoria Barracks, Paddington, New South Wales McNaught. Major R. P., Officer Commanding, Melbourne Workshop Com­ pany, Miles Street, South Melbourne, ViclOria Murphy, Alderman T. J., 78 Albert Street, Erskineville, New South Wales Orr, R. J., Esq., ChiefPlanning & Building Officer, South Sydney Municipal Council, Waterloo Town Hall, 770 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo, New South Wales Smith, R. B., Esq., Chief Executive Officer, Defence Facilities Division, Depanment of Defence, Russell Offices, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

IV Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

DEVELOPME T OF AVY SUPPLY CE TRE AD ARMY WORKSHOP FACILITY AT DEFE CE ESTABLISHMENT, ZETLAND, N.S.W. Report

By resolution on 26 May 1976 the House of 5. The Comminee's proceedings will be Represematives referred to the Parliamentary published as MinUlesofEvidence. Standing Committee on Public Works for inves­ tigation and repon to the Parliament. the proposal BACKGROUND to devdop a Navy supply centre and Army work­ 6. The Royal Australian Navy has been shop facility at ~fenc:e establishment, Zelland, endeavouring for more than twenty years to con­ N.s.W. This reference had been referred pre­ solidate its warehouse facilities and supply div­ viously, on 9 October 1975. but lapsed with the ision office accommodation in one complex, close dissolution of the Twenty-ninth Parliament on II to its principle activities which are centred in the ovember 1975. Sydney area. Garden Island Dockyard is the lar­ The Commillee have the honour to repon as gest single customer for stores. In addition, Cocka­ follows: too Dockyard and four other major commissioned establishments are located in the Sydney Harbour THE REfERENCE area. 1. The proposal is for the redevelopment of the 7. Planning was under way for the conStruction ex-uyland car manufacturing plant at Zelland to of a modern warehouse ,;omplex, initially at provide a Navy supply centre and an Army work­ Woolloomooloo and since 1969, at Randwick. A shop and servicing facility. The work comprises: two phase development program for Randwick conversion and rehabilitation of existing estimated to COSt $40m (at 1973 prices) was buildings; planned to commence in 1976·77. However Ihis construction ofone major new building: was cunailed by the allocation of the Zedand site the insullation ofspecialised stores handling for this purpose. and vehicle servicing facilities; 8. The Commiuee were advised that the acqui­ a complete fire detection system for all build­ sition and allocation for defence purposes of the ings together with improved fire suppression former Leyland Zelland site, only 5 k.m from Gar­ installations; den Island, has provided an almost ideal location - rationalisation and upgrading of engineering for the Navy supply centre. The proximity of the services; Zetland site to the centre of Navy activity and to renewal of major sections of roofing of three the repair and maintenance facilities of industry, buildings; and its location in an industrial area and its ready ac­ any necessary minor maintenance to build· cessibility to road transpon are other factors ings. favouring this site. 2. The estimated COSt of the work at the time of 9. The Army's Sydney Workshop Company is reference to the Committee was $14.2m. presently located at Mascot in leased premises. The Company's service slation is located at THE COMMIITEE'S INVESTIGATION Leichhardt. Collocation of the Army Workshop J. The Committee received written submissions Company and its service station al Zetland will and drawings from the [kpanments of [kfence result in more efficient Army operation as well as and Construction and took evidence from their providing some servicing facilities for Navy supply reprc.sentati~at a public hearing inSydney O!l 15 centre vehicles. The siting of the Reserve units June 1976. Representatives of the South Sydney with the Workshop will give Reserve soldiers Municipal Council also gave evidence. access to training facilities. 4. The Committee inspected the site and emting 10. The new Navy supply centre and Army ex-Leyland buildings. This was followed by an workshop facility will enable the progressive inspection ofNary stores depots at Randwick and release of Navy sites at Randwick (28 hectares). Garden Island. Liechhardl (2.63 hectares) and Woolloomooloo 1

(0.5 hectare) and the Army site at Mascot (2.6 16. Th~ Sit~ and Exi.sling Buildings. The site is hectares) for other Australian Government or 893-931 South Dowling Street in the Municipality community use. ofSouth Sydney, 4 km from the Sydney G.P.O. It THE NEED borders the Municipality of Randwick and is 11. £~ist;".g fQcilili~s The Navy supply bounded by South Dowling Street on the east, organizatIOn IS presently fragmented in both O'Dea Avenue on the nOM, Joynton Avenue on warehousing facilities and management locations the west and by a private property to the south. throughout the Sydney area. Supply managemen! The area is 24.9 hectares. It is zoned for general is exercised from five office locations, namely Potts industrial use. The buildings on the site are as Point, Goulbum Slrttl (City), Nonh Sydney, follows: Randwick and Pyrmont. Hardware stock is held in - eight general purpose factory buildings, with six major warehouse complexes located at Garden a total ftoor area of 94 861 square metres. Island. Woolloomooloo, Randwick. Pyrmont, One of these buildings also incorporates Leichhardt and Rydalmere. Some of the ware­ office space which will accommodate about houses pre-date the !Urn of the century. with low 90 personnel, a computer room and a tele­ ceilings. numerous suppon pillars and inadequate phone exchange; stores lifting and access arrangements, while - the main administration building which is a others are of the fibro cement sheet and shed type modem office building with a capacity to ac­ constructed during the Second World War. Under commodate approximately 450 personnel; these conditions full application of modern COSt - one amenities building of4000 square metres saving and warehousing techniques has not been incorporating a canteen and a locker and possible. washroom; 12. Sydney Workshop Company at Mascot pro­ - four small buildings being the boiler house, vides repair and recovery facilities for vehicles and office air conditioner plant, emission control! general equipment belonging to Army units in the dynamometer building and air compressor Sydney metropolitan area. It repairs office machin­ building ery for Army units in New South Wales, provides - twenty-four small buildings of a miscel­ reparr suppon for Army survey operations in laneous nature. Australia and overseas and repairs medical and There are also two areas of hardstanding totalling dental equipment for the three services in New 5667 square metres. South Wales. The service station, which is a sec­ 17. Utili.sot;on of Existing Buildings. Of the tion of the Sydney Workshop Company is eight faCtory buildings, six will be used for ware­ presently located at liechhardt. It services all house operations for the Navy supply centre. One Army vehicles located in the metropolitan area will be used for on-site servicing the Navy supply other than Randwick. centre materials handling equipment, while the 13. The existing Army facilities consist of old remaining one, with surrounding area, will be used corrugated iron sheds at Leichhardt and a steel to house the Army's Sydney Workshop Company bow-framed asbestos-roofed facility at Mascot. which includes the service station and Royal Aus­ Requests to upgrade the Mascot workshop have tralian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers been denied over the years be<:ause of the uncer­ Reserve Units. tainty of its tenure, the type of StruCture and the 18. The main administration building and the general condition ofthe facility. office space in one of the factory buildings will be 14. Committee's conclusion. There is a need used for office accommodation for the Navy sup­ for more spacious and centralised SlOrage facilities ply centre. The computer room and telephone for Ihe Navy 10 enable the employment of modem exchange will continue to be utilised for the ser­ cost saving and warehousinl$lcchniques. There is a vices. One of the small miscellaneous buildings need for enlarged, centrahsed premises for the previously used as an office building could not be Army Workshop and servicing Facility to enable it eronomically brought to a satisfactory standard 10 develop its full capability. for office accommodation and will be utilised as a THE PROPOSAL baggage and archives store. 15. The proposed works embrace the modifica­ 19. The canteen section of the amenities build· tion of existing buildings for use ofoffices, ware· ing will be retained and pan of the locker and hoUS6, workshops and warehouse suppon facili­ washroom section will be used for male and fe­ ties; the construction ofa gas, acid and flammable male personnel in adjacent warehouse buildings. store; the rationalisation of existing services to The Depanment of Construction undenook to meet planned requirements and the installation of consult with relevanl unions concerning these necessary services and equipment. amenities prior 10 finalisation of documentation. 2 The remainder of the locker and washroom area rooms, toilets and washrooms will be reduced which is in excess of requirements for these pur­ from the present provision for a much larger staff, poses will be used for supply support functions. to a scale appropriate to the proposed staff. The 20. The capacity of the existing boiler house is reduced accommodation will conform with the unnecessarily large for Navy supply centre New South Wales Department of Labour and requirements and its operation will be phased out Industry standards. with the installation ofa smaller heat generator for 27. New building. The flammable, gas and office heating. The space which will become avail­ acid store building will be single storey brick able in the building wililhen be used for workshop construction with concrete floor, steel frame roof and laboralOries. structure and metal roofsheeting. 21. The emission control/dynamometer build­ 28. Electrical services. Electric power is ing will be retained and used by the Department reticulated throughout the site via a number of of Transport for vehicle emission research in the substations on the property. The capacity of these shon term. Subsequently the equipment will be substations is far in excess ofthe loads required for used by the Army. light and general power in store areas and, due to 22. With three ex.ceptions the various small the excessive no load losses, the capacity of the buildings on the site will be retained 10 house new larger substations will be reduced and appropriate or existing services such as guard houses, transport modifications to the switchboards will be made. and pedestrian control stations, salvage and scrap Additional external lighting will be provided in compound, accommodation for on site servicing areas not already covered, particularly the and transport personnel and materials, fire station, transport and Army vehicle parks, to enspre an ad­ fire main booster pump house, town gas, elec­ equate standard ofsecurity lighting over the whole tricity, sewerage, oil traps and temporary shore site. Some modification of existing internal light­ storage needs ofships. The three eltceptions com­ ing will be carried out to suit the buildings' new prise two old brick buildings and a galvanised usages. ironclad building which are in an extreme state of 29. A control cable throughout the site of 150 disrepair and will be demolished. pairs with suitable pillar boxes will cater for fire 23. The Navy supply centre will house virtually detection, controls for fire booster pump security the full range ofthe Royal Australian Navy inven­ alarms and public address systems. Sufficient pairs tory eltcept explosives and missiles, comprising will be provided for future expansion. more than 500 000 items for the support ofships, 30. Hydraulic services. The existing water sup­ shore establishments and dockyards covering ply to the complex is obtained from a number of general hardware, food, clothing, textiles and sup­ separate connections to the Metropolitan Water, port spares for aircraft, machinery, weapons and Sewerage and Drainage Board mains in Joynton the electrical and electronic equipment used by the Avenue. Separate reticulation is provided for fire Navy. fighting purposes and for domestic supplies. The 24. High rise storage is planned to the greatest domestic reticulation is adequate for future needs extent practicable in those buildings where roof as a storehouse complex, as the population served heights make this appropriate. Compactus racking will be approximately 1200 compared with the will be used in other buildings to achieve effective population of 5000 when the area was used for use ofavailable space. To simplify the transport of manufacturing. stores and to save time and labour, mechanical 31. To provide for water demand for fire protec­ conveyor systems are proposed. Computer facili­ tion, considerable improvement to this reticulation ties will be provided for warehousing data. is required. This will comprise a new large connec­ 25. Commitlee's conclusion. The proposed tion to the Board's main, feeding automatic start redevelopment of the Zetland complex will electric booster pumps, with diesel engine standby improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the in case of power failure. The size of the existing Navy supply organisation and the Army's Sydney internal mains is generally insufficient for the flows Workshop Company. required. A new ring main will be installed around CONSTRUCTION the site with enlarged mains in some buildings. 26. Existing buildings. Where existing build­ Existing mains are to be interconnected into the ings are to be rehabilitated, modified or altered the new reticulation, wherever possible, to reduce the construction and materials used will be similar to extent ofreplacement required. that eusting with the exception of roofing 32. The present domestic sewerage reticulation materials. All new roof cladding will be of a non­ is adequate for the reduced population mentioned combustible type. Generally, work will be to a above and is connected to the Metropolitan Water, good 'industrial' standard. Amenities, locker Sewerage and Drainage Board system. Industrial 3 I

liquid waste at present flows via the stormwater 39. Mechanical ventilation and exhaust will be reticulation and is separated and coUected in the provided in the fire station and associated work­ south west comer of the site. However, in order to sbop. Halide fume detection will be supplied in the comply with present regulations oovering waste fire extinguisber charging area. discharge, additional facilities will be installed at each point ofdischarge ofliquid waste from build­ 40. A weigbbridge of 50-tonne tonne capacity ings. The existing waste coUection instaUation will will be installed. At the public hearing. the Com­ be retained in case of accidental spillage outside mittee queried the need for tbe proposed buildings. weigbbridge. Following consideration of sub­ sequent information provided by the Depanment 33. Mechanical Yn>iuJ. Some existing equip­ of Defence, the Committee are satisfied tbat this mem which is suitable for reuse with modification installation is justified. or overhaul is being retained. Warehouse No. I comains two IO-ton and twO 20-ton gamry cranes, 41. Fir~ proteclion prDl/iJiolU Fire detection all cabin operated. These will be convened to pen­ systems installed in accordance with Australian dant control by a walking operator. Mechanical Standard 1670 will be provided to all main build­ ventilation will be provided to the security Storage ings. Light beam smoke detectors wil be used in vaults. warehouses and smoke or thermal detectors, or a 34. Air conditioning equipment which served combination of these, will be used elsewhere, de­ the Leyland computer section in the office section pendent upon the construction and use of the of warehouse No.3 will be retained for use with individual building or section. Navy computer equipment The warehouse sec­ 42. Each building will be equipped with a fire tion will be provided with an in-floor conveyor sys­ indicator board and an area fire indicator console tem and compactus type storage. Food storage will will be installed in the Naval Police POSl All fire be provided at deep freeze and normal refrigera­ detection and automatic fire sprinkler systems tion holding temperatures. l...()w and normal tem­ together with manual (break glass) alarms will be perature air conditioned space will be provided for connected thereto. storage and receipt ofperishable stock items. 35. The existing stacker crane in warehouse no. 43. Manual call points will be installed at each 4 has been over-hauled and renovated and its use exit from individual buildings. will be extended to the full length of the building. 44. An automatic tire suppression system. ap­ The existing IO-ton overhead gantry will be con­ propriate for the goods being stored. will be vened to a stacker crane. Compaetus type storage installed in the ftammable store. AutOmatic fire and an in-floor conveyor system will be provided sprinlcJer protection will be installed in warehouses in no. 5 warehouse. nos I, 2, and 4, the vehicle service ceotre, the sup­ 36. The Army workshop and servicing facility ply centre service building and the Army work­ will retain the existing 2-ton pendam o~rated shop and servicing facility building. No sprinkler gantry crane. Air conditioning will be provtded for installations are proposed for warehouses Nos 3 the environmental control of special workshops. and 5, which will house stOres in compactus shelv­ Fume exhaust systems will be provided where ing, nor at this stage in the supply suppon store or required and full facilities for vehicle servicing and for the southern two bays of warehouse No. I, maintenance, including heavy duty vehicle hoists, which area is proposed for storage of steel plate lubrication equipmem and spray painting booths and other heavy items with low fire risk. All will be supplied. sprinkler systems will be designed in accordance 37. The supply centre service building will be with the requirements of Australian Standard CA supplied with a powered roller conveyor and ac­ 16 covering such installations. cumulating conveyor system and automatic 45. To provide adequate water pressures and weighing, strapping and measuring equipment. It flows for the operation ofsprinklers and hydrants, will also be provided with an in·floor conveyor provision will be made for the fire booster pumps system which will be linked to the system in no. 5 to be staned automatically upon a drop in pressure waret'louse. in any ofthe fire sprinkJer systems or upon the op­ 38. Two of the steam boilers and ancillary eration ofa manual call station. equipment situated in the boiler house are being removed from the site by Leyland. The third boiler 46. Additional hydrants will be provided where there are deficiencies in the present installation and associated equipment is Navy propeny and will remain in service to provide heating for the and small bore howe reels will be installed to give mam office block until alternative heating equip­ complete coverage ofall buildings. ment is installed in the air conditioning plant 47. Smoke vents and smoke cunains are to be room. provided where required. 48. Fire protection provisions proposed have ESTIMATE OF COST been discussed with the fire prevention section of 58. The estimated cost of the work when the N.S.W. Fire Brigade, who consider them referred 10 the Committee was $14.2m made up as satisfactory. follows: 49. Civil services. The existing road system, $ which provides access to all present buildings, is in Building Work 3500000 reasonable condition and only minor repairs are Electrical services 500 ()()() proposed to bring it to a standard to accommodate Mechanical services 3 ()()() ()()() stores vehicles. Civil Works 3700000 50. The existing staff" car park facilities are very Fire protection 1 800 ()()() poor and light fkrible pavement reconstruction is Roofreplacement and main- proposed, to provide a minimum ac:a:ptable stan­ tenance . I 700 000 dard. On completion. parking will be available for approximately 450 employees' cars. 14200000 51. New access and loading areas will be pro­ vided for the new t1.ammable, acid and gas store. A RECOMMEND"TlONS AND portion of the access road will be used as a test CONCLUSIONS track for Anny vehicles undergoing road tests.. The summary ofrecommendations and con­ 52. A new vehicle park will be provided to the 59. west of the Anny workshop for Army vehicles clusions ofthe Committee is set out below. Along­ is awaiting repain. A new heavy duty parking area side each shown the paragraph in the repon to which it refers. adjacent to the traffic control office will provide space for parking and marshalling heavy stores vehicles. l. There is a need for more 53. Fencing. Existing fencing is to be replaced spacious and centralised or restored where necessary. so that a minimum storage facilities for the navy to 2.4 m high manproofbarrier exists around the site. enable the employment ofmod­ New internaJ manproof fencing will be provided em cost saving and warehous­ for Army vehicle repair parks. Staff" car parks will ing techniques ...... 14 be separated from the site by a 2.4 m high 2. There is a need for enlarged, manprooffence, ofwhich some already exists. centralised premises for the army workshop and servicing 54. Landscaping. At present tbe site presents a facility to enable it to develop poor appearance when viewed from surrounding its full capability .... 14 streets. A limited landscaping scheme will provide 3. The proposed redevelopment a screen from surroundings, and will aJso help to of the Zetland complex will create a more pleasant atmosphere on site and fur­ improve the efficiency and nish shade and protection. elfectiveness of the navy supply 55. Committee's conclusions. The Committee organisation and the army's recommend the work outlined in tbis reference. Sydney workshop oompany 25 56. Environmental aspecl$. The evironmental 4. The committee reoommend the aspects of the use of this site for defence purposes work outlined in this reference 55 were considered during the Government review of 5. The estimated oost of the work possible ahemotive uses of the propcny and the when referred to the commitlee proposal was exempted from funher environ­ was$14.2m 58 mental review. C. R. KELLY PROGRAM Chairman 57. The Depanment of Defence proposes to Parliamentary Standing Comminee occupy various areas progressively and the work on Public Works plan will be arranged accordingly. II is expected Parliament House, that the whole of the work could be completed in Canberra, A.C.T. approximately four yeaf5. 19 August 1976.

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