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The government plans to invest more than $31 million in the first tranche of a two-tier project that will see infrastructure added to Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) in Bungendore, near Canberra. Once finished, the upgrades will support the doubling of the facility’s original capacity.
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Works on the project are expected to commence in August and will include the delivery of security accreditation works, a 1.9 megawatt solar farm, a car park upgrade, and site preparation works ahead of the next tranche of work that is expected to commence in 2022.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said that HQJOC and its supporting infrastructure must expand to accommodate a significant increase in personnel needed to plan and conduct operations on a daily basis.
“We have seen the vital role HQJOC played in the Australian government’s response to the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19,” said Minister Reynolds. "This investment will improve the facility’s capacity to support the Australian Defence Force’s response to domestic and international crises.
“When the expansion is complete, HQJOC will house up to 1,400 personnel, doubling its capacity from when it was originally built in 2008, to cater for increasingly complex multi-domain operations including cyber and space.”
The 2020 Defence Strategic Update and the 2020 Force Structure Plan announced by the Prime Minister and Minister Reynolds will strengthen the ADF’s capabilities to respond to an increasingly challenging strategic environment.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price, spoke to the jobs created by the move, adding that the investment will help maximise local industry involvement in Defence projects.
“This first tranche of works extends out to mid-2022 and will provide a valuable opportunity for small businesses in Bungendore and Queanbeyan. The project will support construction jobs and ensure economic benefits flow to a region that has seen its share of recent challenges,” said Minister Price.
“Up to 130 workers will be employed during the peak of construction. This construction work will align with the Morrison government’s COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.
“Defence will leverage existing contract arrangements to expedite these works and ensure local industry content is maximised.”
