Infrastructure upgrades worth $22m announced for Darwin Defence facilities

Works have already begun in Darwin on $22 million worth of modern infrastructure upgrades to Robertson Barracks and maintenance works worth $2 million at Howard Springs South, according to the government announcement on 30 January.

Improvements to Robertson Barracks, which houses 2000 Australian Defence Force personnel from Army’s 1st Brigade and 1st Aviation Regiment, include medical and dental facilities, military working dog facilities, air-conditioning and on base fitness facilities.

Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite said the works will create over 230 jobs in the Northern Territory, providing opportunities for local trades, construction and other businesses, including promoting the participation of Indigenous companies.

“The $24 million upgrades at Robertson Barracks and Howard Springs South in Darwin will be delivered by local businesses and provide a significant boost to the local economy by creating job opportunities in the construction industry,” he said.

“The Defence estate plays a critical role in supporting the operational readiness of the Australian Defence Force, and having a safe and maintained estate is integral to capability and supporting personnel who live, work and train on base.”

The upgrades are designed to improve the ability of the Australian Defence Force to operate from Australia’s northern bases, which was identified as a key priority by the government in response to the Defence Strategic Review.

“Across the whole of the top end, most of our bases are getting major upgrades,” said Minister Thistlethwaite during a press conference at Robertson Barracks on 30 January.

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“From the wharf facility at HMAS Coonawarra to a new runway facility over at RAAF Base Curtin, to new facilities over at Scherger and the Greenvale Training Area, Shoal Bay facilities, and those sorts of important military facilities along the top end, all of those are being upgraded by the government as well.

“From HMAS Cairns in the North of Queensland where we’re just about to start a wharf upgrade, I’ve travelled down to the Greenvale Training Area where work is, are about to start on an upgrade to that important training facility that we co-share with the Singaporean military to ensure that the ongoing partnership that exists between our two militaries is first-rate.

“Most of the bases in the Northern Territory are receiving upgrades. A couple of months ago I was down at Tindal to see the runway upgrades, the apron upgrades, the new maintenance facilities, the new energy systems that have been constructed to support that base.

“I’ve flown over to RAAF Base Pearce where they’re getting a runway upgrade and brand-new facilities over there as well. These are vitally important strategic assets for our nation, and all of them are being upgraded by the Albanese government.”

The federal government has also contributed $3.6 million of funding into the Scott Palmer Services Centre to support design and construction of a temporary accommodation centre in Darwin, social infrastructure such as pool upgrades in Darwin and Palmerston, a youth engagement hub, and a men’s shed.

The assistant minister for Defence said the upgrades are paving the way for a relocation of 1,000 troops from South Australia to Darwin and Townsville.

“Those troops will start coming towards next year and it takes about four to five years for the transfer to be completed.

“That will involve combat readiness and improve the capacity of our troops; the Brigadier and I have been speaking about some of the training that’s occurring here at the moment, to improve the littoral capacity of the 1st Brigade and that’s really, really important.

“We’re looking at what the accommodation needs are going to be for those troops coming into an area like Darwin and Townsville in the future. We’re working closely with Defence Housing Australia, to make sure that the projections for housing requirements are being met and that we’re investing in new housing in places like Darwin to ensure that when those troops do come, they’ve got places where they can live comfortably.

“We’re looking at around four to 500 troops increase over the course of the next decade. (Accommodation announcements) will come over the course of this year.

“We want to make sure that in pretty harsh conditions such as this in the north here, that people have access to air conditioning, that they have access to reasonable quarters when they come and base themselves here.

“I often ask troops, when I come up to places like Darwin and Townsville in the north, what they think about coming up here and I tell you what a common response I get is: I was apprehensive at first but now that I’m here, I love it and I want to stay.

“Once people come here, once they get to know the town, the local community, they become entrenched, and they love the place. That’s why a lot of Defence people do stay on to buy homes in the local community and why it’s well known as a great garrison down here in Darwin.

(The defence industry) is a huge contributor to the economy up here in the north, and you’re starting to see a lot more defence industry base itself here, because this is a well-known garrison town and because the US Force Posture Initiatives is occurring on an annual basis here.

“I’ve come to Darwin in the past to address defence industry conferences here. I know that they’re growing. I know that the employment and defence industry here in the north is growing.”