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Reservists from 11th Engineer Regiment have put their skills to the test ahead of a potential call-out during the high-risk weather season.
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Australian Defence Force Reservists from the 11th Engineer Regiment (11ER) have tested their capabilities at the Enoggera Close Training Area in Brisbane.
The team worked with range control to identify priority projects that would support emergency services personnel responding to a bushfire, and repaired roads damaged by the extra weight of the new LAND 121 MAN trucks.
11ER’s tasks also included realignment of road and drainage works to prevent a compound flooding, replacement of a culvert, road repair to enable access and reopening of the LAND 121 driver training circuit, and felling of damaged and dangerous trees.
Officer Commanding 104 Construction Squadron Major Ben Gyetvay explained that the MAN trucks degraded the surface of a culvert near 7th Combat Service Support Battalion (7CSSB), and damaged drainage channels, shifting up the catch drains and flood debris overflowing into 7CSSB’s compound.
“An old culvert on the main ring road in the Enoggera training area had corroded and was in danger of collapsing,” he said.
“A new culvert was installed with the required load rating to take the LAND 121 fleet. This was also extended to be greater than nine metres to ensure it met specifications for the incoming fleet.
“Plant operators and combat engineers worked to install the culvert and reopen the road in less than 36 hours.”
The regiment repaired a road on the LAND 121 driver training circuit, which had started to damage vehicles.
“This road section was repaired and a number of innovative techniques employed to ensure its longevity,” MAJ Gyetvay said.
Engineers also honed their tree-felling skills, with a number of trees damaged by the height of the new LAND 121 fleet.
“A number of other trees have also come down in storms and were in dangerous positions, causing a hazard to soldiers using the area,” MAJ Gyetvay added.
The engineers also conducted road repair, applied road erosion control measures and procurement, working in co-operation with civilian suppliers to procure materiel and landscaping supplies.
Operations staff also rehearsed high-risk weather season tasks from call-out to planning phase.
[Related: Exercise Diamond Catalyst puts brigade to the test]
