Australian Government Department of Defence RAAF BASE PEARCE REDEVELOPMENT STAGE 1 PEARCE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE TO THE PARLIAMENTARY JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE CANBERRA, ACT April 2007 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK i INDEX PART A - IDENTIFICATION OF THE NEED ...................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................... 1 OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 NEED FOR WORK.............................................................................................................................................. 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL .............................................................................................................. 4 OPTIONS CONSIDERED ................................................................................................................................... 5 REASON FOR ADOPTING THE PROPOSAL ................................................................................................7 ENVIRONMENTAL AND HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................... 8 CONSULTATIONS.............................................................................................................................................. 9 REVENUE............................................................................................................................................................. 9 PART B - TECHNICAL INFORMATION.............................................................................................................. 9 PROJECT LOCATION ....................................................................................................................................... 9 PROJECT SCOPE OF WORKS......................................................................................................................... 9 Engineering Services Upgrade .......................................................................................................................... 9 Base Fuel Farm................................................................................................................................................ 10 Fuel Quality Control Centre............................................................................................................................ 10 Combined Mess Facility................................................................................................................................... 10 Air Movements Facilities ................................................................................................................................. 10 PC 9/A Maintenance Facilities........................................................................................................................ 11 Noise Attenuated Engine Run-Up Facility...................................................................................................... 11 Defence Restricted Network Connection to Base Briefing Facility................................................................ 11 Living-in Accommodation................................................................................................................................11 Demolition of Redundant Facilities................................................................................................................. 11 MASTER PLANNING ....................................................................................................................................... 12 ZONING AND APPROVALS ........................................................................................................................... 12 LAND ACQUISITION....................................................................................................................................... 12 CODES AND STANDARDS.............................................................................................................................. 12 PLANNING AND DESIGN CONCEPTS......................................................................................................... 13 ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ............ 14 MATERIALS AND FINISHES ......................................................................................................................... 15 STRUCTURAL DESIGN................................................................................................................................... 15 MECHANICAL SERVICES.............................................................................................................................. 15 HYDRAULIC SERVICES ................................................................................................................................. 15 ELECTRICAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................................... 16 FIRE PROTECTION ......................................................................................................................................... 16 ACOUSTICS ....................................................................................................................................................... 16 SECURITY.......................................................................................................................................................... 16 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY..................................................................................................16 PROVISION FOR DISABLED PERSONS...................................................................................................... 16 CHILDCARE PROVISIONS ............................................................................................................................ 16 LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION.............................................................................................................. 16 RAAF Base Pearce Redevelopment Stage 1 ii IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITY............................................................................................................. 17 PROJECT COSTS.............................................................................................................................................. 17 Cost of Works ................................................................................................................................................... 17 Operating Costs ................................................................................................................................................ 17 PROJECT DELIVERY...................................................................................................................................... 17 PROJECT SCHEDULE..................................................................................................................................... 18 ANNEXES A. RAAF Base Pearce - Location Plan B. Proposed Works - Site Plan C. Base Fuel Farm – Concept Plan D. Fuel Quality Control Centre – Concept Plan E. Combined Mess Facility – Concept Plan F. Air Movements Facilities – Concept Plan G. PC 9/A Maintenance Facilities – Concept Plan H. Noise Attenuated Engine Run-Up Facility – Concept Plan I. Living-In-Accommodation – Concept Plan J. Facilities Identified for Demolition RAAF Base Pearce Redevelopment Stage 1 1 PART A - IDENTIFICATION OF THE NEED INTRODUCTION 1. This evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works presents a proposal for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce Redevelopment Stage 1, Pearce, Western Australia. The proposed redevelopment aims to address the RAAF Base Pearce ageing, sub-standard, non-compliant and dysfunctional infrastructure and facilities through a combination of new construction and refurbishment works. BACKGROUND 2. RAAF Base Pearce is crucial to the Air Force capability, being the flying training Base for the RAAF and Royal Australian Navy cadet pilots. It houses primarily two RAAF flying training units, which are as follows: a) Number 2 Flying Training School, which provides pilot training with 41 Pilatus PC- 9/A aircraft; and b) Number 79 Squadron, which conducts jet-training courses with 14 Hawk 127 aircraft. 3. Since 1993, RAAF Base Pearce has also been the flying training base for pilots of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. 4. RAAF Base Pearce is the only fully manned military air base in Western Australia and is of high strategic and operational importance. The Base supports deployments and transit operations for aircraft of the Surveillance and Response Group, Air Combat Group and foreign military forces. The Base has also operated as an airhead in support of Australian Defence Force operations in the Middle East. It also acts as a support Base for the Special Air Services Regiment activities and deployments, and for search-and-rescue and fisheries patrols in the Indian and Southern Oceans. The Base also provides facilities and services to Royal