Over $747 million will be invested by the Government to upgrade four key training areas and ranges in the Defence bases situated in Northern Territory.
The bases will essentially be upgraded to four key military training areas and weapon ranges to support greater engagement with the country’s neighbours and allies. It will also conduct small and large scale military exercises across a number of different scenarios.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment was part of an almost $8 billion in defence capital infrastructure works over the next decade in the Northern Territory.
“This investment will deliver a jobs boom for the Northern Territory,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“We continue to invest more than $270 billion in defence capability across Australia over the next decade, ensuring we have a capable defence force to meet a changing global environment while backing thousands of ADF men and women with the newest technology and training,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
The investment in Defence’s bases will also maximise local jobs. Prime Minister Morrison revealed it to occur through a targeted industry plan in order to contract local businesses throughout the entire supply chain.
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said this significant investment would ensure the Australian Defence Force continues to deliver world-class training and our engagement with allies and other nations through the conduct of joint training exercises, including with the US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin.
“This investment is critical to ensuring that our ADF land combat capability is equipped with the cutting edge technology it will require to maintain our competitive advantage,” Minister Dutton said.
“These works will provide a strong economic benefit to the region, with significant opportunities for the local construction industry and local tradies over a five-year delivery phase program. Significant opportunities will exist for local Australian industry to bid for almost all of the construction works, planned to be delivered through numerous local sub-contractor packages by Defence’s local Darwin-based Managing Contractor, Sitzler.”
Subject to Parliamentary approvals, construction is expected to commence in the second half of 2021, with completion expected by mid-2026.