Submission Number: 221 Attachment B Attachment B Northern Australia Defence Snapshot North Queensland
Total Defence Personnel in North Queensland
As at 31 December 2013, total Defence numbers in North Queensland were 8,462 comprising: Navy Army RAAF APS F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total Regular 147 679 826 514 4,682 5,196 120 388 508 Continuous Full Time Service (CFTS) 5 5 1 3 4 Active Reserves 47 213 260 160 877 1,037 41 137 178 Civilian 239 209 448 TOTAL 194 897 1,091 675 5,562 6,237 161 525 686 239 209 448
Liveability factors: The cost of living in much of tropical Queensland is lower than most regions in Northern Australia and many southern parts of Australia. Townsville offers well established, quality infrastructure and recreational facilities, and its employment and economic opportunities are much stronger than in the far north where unemployment is notably higher.
Property
Defence’s major establishments and bases in North Queensland are:
- HMAS Cairns and Porton Barracks (Cairns); - Lavarack Barracks, Ross Island Barracks and RAAF Base Townsville (Townsville); - RAAF Base Scherger (Weipa); - Shoalwater Bay Training Area (Rockhampton); and - Townsville Field Training Area.
Defence owns fifty one properties in northern Queensland (of which two are slightly below the Tropic of Capricorn), ranging in size from less than one hectare to Shoalwater Bay Training Area (approximately 274,000 hectares). Of Defence’s 200 site leases in Northern Australia, 166 are in Queensland.
In northern Queensland, Defence also has non-exclusive rights over the North-East Australia Exercise Area (NEAXA) adjacent to Cairns. Defence does not have exclusive rights over this, but can activate Defence Practice Areas within the area through public notification. Attachment B
Logistics
North Queensland. The Defence Logistic Transformation Project (DLTP) will deliver greater logistic storage and distribution infrastructure through the Joint Logistic Unit (North Queensland), servicing Defence activities throughout North Queensland. This will reduce dependence in peacetime upon bulk storage and distribution from further south and also has opportunities for greater leverage with regional logistics industry expertise.
Townsville. Noting that Townsville is one principal mounting base for amphibious operations, Defence logistic use of the port may grow beyond that so far developed at the commercial Berth 10. It is likely that amphibious operations will involve a naval task force which may increase ship numbers visiting Townsville and adjacent ports. Provision of F44 naval aviation fuel through the port is also to be established. It is also likely that Defence relationships with the Department of Agriculture and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service will grow in Townsville because of amphibious operations.
Cairns. Planned channel deepening/widening over the next few years will improve access for larger Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and United States Navy ships seeking to use Cairns as a logistic re-supply port. HMAS Cairns will remain a home-port for RAN Minor War Vessels (MWV), but there are no plans to home-port RAN Major Fleet Units (MFU) in the port. Improvements in existing commercial small ship repair and maintenance facilities to allow for all-weather work on home- ported ships would be welcomed.
Industry
HMAS Cairns is homeport to 14 RAN vessels, including the hydrographic fleet, survey launches, Patrol Boats and Landing Craft - Heavy vessels. Local businesses are engaged in sustainment activities, with key firms being DMS Maritime Pty Ltd- Cairns, Norship Marine, Tropical Reef Shipyard, BSE Cairns Slipways, Serco Sedexo, and BAE Systems Australia1.
The Multi-Role Helicopter, BlackHawk helicopter, CH-47 Chinook helicopter, and Beechcraft King Air 300 are maintained at RAAF Base Townsville. Local suppliers are involved with minor materiel support activity at Lavarack Barracks. Boeing Defence Australia supports maintenance of a high frequency communications station, with staff drawn from the local area or from Brisbane.
1 From Business Access Office – QLD. Attachment B
Northern Territory
Total Defence Personnel in Northern Territory (including Alice Springs)
As at 31 December 2013, total Defence numbers in Northern Territory (including Alice Springs) were 6,578 comprising:
Navy Army RAAF APS F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total Regular 120 603 723 357 3,202 3,559 200 819 1,019 CFTS 3 27 30 4 4 2 2 Active Reserves 29 97 126 118 532 650 33 93 126 Civilian 171 168 339 TOTAL 152 727 879 475 3,738 4,213 233 914 1,147 171 168 339
Liveability factors: Darwin’s acute shortage of appropriate and affordable housing and infrastructure challenges, particularly health and education services, contributed to its recent rating as Australia’s least liveable capital city2. While Darwin offers very good employment and economic opportunities, with median weekly income well above the national median and those of cities in North Queensland (such as Rockhampton and Cairns), the cost of living is among the highest in Australia. Deficiencies in services, infrastructure, housing and employment opportunities are more pronounced in regional Northern Territory.
Property
Defence’s major establishments and bases in Northern Territory are:
- Larrakeyah Defence Precinct (Larrakeyah Barracks and HMAS Coonawarra); - RAAF Base Darwin; Robertson Barracks (Palmerston); - Defence Establishment Berrimah (Darwin); - RAAF Base Tindal (Katherine); - Delamere Air Weapons Range Facility; - Bradshaw Field Training Area (Timber Creek); - Kangaroo Flats Training Area; - Mount Bundey Training Area; and - Joint Defence Facility – Pine Gap (which is approximately 60km south of the Tropic of Capricorn).
Defence owns twenty nine properties in the Northern Territory (of which three are slightly below the Tropic of Capricorn), ranging in size from less than one hectare to Bradshaw Field Training Area (approximately 871,000 hectares). Defence leases 24 sites in the Northern Territory.
In the Northern Territory, Defence also has non-exclusive rights over the Northern Australia Exercise Area (NAXA) adjacent to Darwin. Defence does not have
2 Property Council of Australia: My City 2013 liveability survey – see State of Australian Cities 2013 Attachment B exclusive rights over this area, but can activate Defence Practice Areas within the area through public notification.
Logistics
Darwin and Northern Territory. Darwin is a major focus of Defence logistic activity to support a growing Defence presence in the north, an increase in amphibious and patrol boat operational mounting, and in response to government priorities for close engagement with Australia’s regional neighbours. Requirements for greater use of existing Darwin port facilities, and particularly East Arm Port, will grow as Darwin is a principal mounting base for amphibious operations.
Darwin bulk fuel installation (BFI) is the subject of current Defence reviews and will no longer be able to receive or hold fuel storage beyond 2018. Future receipt, storage and supply of bulk fuels, F76 and F44, may be met by commercial arrangement or construction of dedicated Defence storage and wharf assets.
The construction of a hardened barge ramp to facilitate amphibious mounting operations will provide a further asset to Darwin harbour. Ready access to East Arm port infrastructure will require careful planning and consultation to ensure Defence shipping logistic support needs are managed within the commercial precinct and growing commercial utilisation. The 2013 Defence / Northern Territory Consultative forum was briefed that natural resource exports are likely to double through the port of Darwin by 2030, placing greater strain upon existing facilities. Although new port facilities are being investigated at Glyde Point or Gunn Point, it is not yet known whether these will be appropriate for Defence use. There may be benefit if the proposed site was able to handle bulk supply and receipt of explosive ordnance. It is likely that ship access to Fort Hill Wharf will continue, although any growth in tourist sector ship visits will increase competition for berth access.
The Northern Territory government has flagged expansion of Darwin airport to accommodate growing air traffic into the region. This will facilitate Defence air freight and personnel movement through Darwin. The US Marine Corps detachment in Darwin is also flagging greater air lift demand in future years.
Similar to initiatives in North Queensland, the DLTP will deliver greater logistic storage and distribution infrastructure through the Joint Logistic Unit - North, servicing Defence activities throughout Northern Australia, providing enhanced opportunities for greater leverage with regional logistics industry expertise.
Long term development and population growth in Northern Australia may provide the Australian Army with an opportunity to enhance Army’s visible profile throughout the region. It may also present recruitment and information gathering opportunities for the Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU). Conversely, in the short to medium term, an increased regional population may present a requirement to modify security measures at reserve depots in locations which do not have a permanent Defence presence.
Development of commercial airfields throughout the north and north-west will provide the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with additional airfields to land at (in Attachment B case of emergency, or for operations), provided the airfields are of sufficient size and strength for RAAF aircraft. However, it is not envisaged that regular use will be made of these airfields, given the proximity of bare base airfields throughout the region that would be established with fuel, communications, explosive storage and accommodation required to operate military aircraft.
Industry
The Northern Territory Defence industry, based in Darwin, comprises small to medium enterprises (SME) working on maritime and light to heavy vehicle sustainment activities, directly or indirectly via prime contractors. Northern Territory capability is limited in delivering highly specialised military products.
Current sustainment activities include the locally-based Armidale Class Patrol Boats, serviced by DMS Maritime, and the locally-based Abrams, ASLAV, M113, and General Service B Vehicle fleets, serviced by BAE Systems Australia, General Dynamics Land Systems Australia, and Transfield Defence Services3. Boeing Defence Australia supports maintenance of a high frequency communications station in the Darwin region with staff drawn from the local area, or Brisbane. Raytheon Australian Pty Ltd and Australian Aerospace Limited have a small presence in Darwin.
The most significant single sustainment activity relates to providing fuel and lubricants to the Northern Territory’s numerous RAN, Australian Army, and RAAF platforms.
3 From DMO Expenditure Model. Attachment B
North Western Australia
Total Defence Personnel in North Western Australia
Based as at 31 December 2013, total Defence numbers in North Western Australia are 247 comprising: Navy Army RAAF APS F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Total Regular 4 44 48 9 9 CFTS Active Reserves 21 153 174 Civilian 7 9 16 TOTAL 0 0 0 25 197 222 0 9 9 7 9 16
Liveability factors: The liveability issues faced in the North West, particularly the shortage of affordable and available accommodation, is evidenced by the prevalence of Fly In Fly Out arrangements for Pilbara workers. In Karratha, the median price for a three bedroom property was at least fifty percent more4 than the median house price ($470,000) in Perth5 and rents about three times higher than in Perth.
Property
Defence’s major establishments and bases in Western Australia are:
- RAAF Base Curtin (Derby); - RAAF Base Learmonth (Exmouth); - Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt (Exmouth); and - Yampi Sound Training Area (Derby).
Defence owns eighteen properties north of the tropic of Capricorn in Western Australia, ranging in size from less than one hectare to Yampi Sound Training Area (approximately 566,000 hectares). Defence leases ten sites in this area of Western Australia.
Defence also has non-exclusive rights over the North-West Australia Exercise Area (NWAXA) adjacent to Learmonth. Defence does not have exclusive rights over this, but can activate Defence Practice Areas within the area through public notification.
The Government has stated that it will consider a greater ADF presence in Northern Australia, especially in resource-rich areas with little or no current military presence, as part of the 2015 Defence White Paper process.
4 Karratha Domain 5 The 2013 Propell National Valuers’ survey – refer page 289 State of Australian Cities 2013 Attachment B
Logistics
Western Australia. Development of North West Australia will have significant benefit for Defence engagement with the national support base. The expansion of Port Hedland as a regional centre and the associated development of a Pilbara Fabrication and Services Common User Facility in the region may provide opportunities for greater Defence engagement with the regional support base. Improvement of road infrastructure from Perth to Darwin will require engagement with Defence as it transits Defence property, but provides scope for greater utilisation of north-south road networks.
Industry
There are limited items of major equipment in Northern Western Australia because of the low numbers of Defence facilities and units operating in this region. Major sustainment activities occur in Perth, which hosts 75 per cent of the State’s population, and thus the majority of Western Australia’s industrial base.
Exmouth houses the Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station and the Very Low Frequency and High Frequency Communications stations, which are supported on-site by staff drawn from Raytheon Australia and Boeing Defence Australia, respectively. Defence personnel perform light maintenance of materiel based at Karratha, Port Headland, Broome, Kunnunurra, Derby, RAAF Curtin, and RAAF Learmonth, with major repairs conducted either in Darwin or Perth.