Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Fran Bailey said tonight that Western Australia would benefit from approved Defence facilities projects totalling approximately $15 million in the 2004-05 Budget.

Subject to Defence planning processes, an extra $23 million per annum will be spent over the next four years on Defence estate upkeep works.

Some 4,500 members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Defence personnel are based in Western Australia.

"This substantial investment in Western Australia will see $12.4 million dollars being spent on HMAS Stirling at Garden Island. This will include upgrades to wharf facilities plus additional offices and laboratories added to the existing DSTO building in order to accommodate increases in personnel", Fran Bailey said.

"This includes $4.4 million to be spent on the project which will see the ANZAC Ship Support Centre transferred to Stirling from temporary facilities in Victoria".

"And $1.6 million worth or work will be done in preparation for the introduction of the Mk 48 Heavy Weight Torpedo into the Royal Australian Navy."

Capital Facilities Projects for Western Australia include:

To provide a new facility to enable the maintenance of the periscope to occur at HMAS Stirling.

To upgrade the wharf facilities at HMAS STIRLING to enable the Base to meet its operational support objectives, to efficiently carry out the ship maintenance program and to preserve the existing infrastructure.

This project will provide additional office and laboratories to the existing DSTO building on HMAS STIRLING to accommodate an increase in personnel.

This project involves the construction of new office and training facilities at HMAS Stirling, to enable the relocation of the ANZAC Ship Support Centre from temporary leased accommodation in Williamstown, Victoria.

Garden Island – HMAS Stirling – Guided Weapons Maintenance Facility

This project relates to the upgrade of electrical, mechanical and security services and some construction works within the Guided Weapons Maintenance Buildings at HMAS Stirling, in preparation for the introduction of the Mk 48 Heavy Weight Torpedo into the RAN.

Garden Island – HMAS Stirling – Joint Ammunition Logistic Organisation West Office Accommodation (formally Torpedo/Underwater Teams Facility)

This project relates to the construction of a new administration facility for the Guided Weapon In-Service Support to replace existing temporary facilities.

The project is to construct a facility to house the small arms Weapons Training Simulation System (WTSS) at Stirling. The WTSS is an indoor 12 lane, laser-based simulation system that employs modified weapons and computer generated graphics.

This project will provide an extension to the existing HQ building on Campbell Barracks.

The project aim is to provide permanent accommodation at Taylor Barracks, Karratha for up to 60 personnel undertaking training courses in the Pilbara Regiment.

The Government will provide an additional $300m over three years from 2005-06 to meet increasing costs of maintaining the Defence estate. Defence has also redirected an additional $100m from within its existing budget to estate upkeep in 2004-05. The additional funding will bring planned expenditure on Defence estate upkeep to approximately $330m per annum for the next four years.

The additional funding will enable Defence to meet the increasing cost of maintaining its extensive base infrastructure, including airfields, naval bases, barracks, training ranges and fuel farms. Funds will also be used to meet community, environmental and occupational health and safety regulatory requirements.

The program of estate upkeep works is developed each year. The further funding is expected to result in the following additional expenditure on estate upkeep in Western Australia over the next four years. These amounts may change as planning processes proceed.

Examples of works to be undertaken in Western Australia in 2004-05 include:

• refurbishment of cranes and wharves at HMAS Stirling;
• maintenance of airfield pavements and navigation aids at RAAF Pearce; and
• upgrade of training facilities at Campbell Barracks.