An independent draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released today for the new Defence Headquarters Australian Theatre – a national nerve centre for land, sea and air forces.

The draft EIS is the next step towards delivering on the Howard Government’s commitment to building a collocated Headquarters Australian Theatre (HQAST) near Bungendore, New South Wales.

The project, worth $200 million for building and infrastructure, is expected to generate major economic benefits for the Canberra-Queanbeyan region.

HQAST is responsible for the planning and execution of campaigns at the operational level for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In recent years this has involved a number of high tempo concurrent operations around the world and in our own region such as Operation Catalyst (Australia's contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq) and Operation Anode (Australia’s contribution to the Australian led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands).

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Fran Bailey said the draft EIS would go on public exhibition for five weeks to seek community comment on environmental aspects of the project.

Ms Bailey said the two-volume report, prepared by consultant URS Australia Pty Ltd, assesses the environmental, social and economic impacts of the purpose-built headquarters on the site near Bungendore and surrounding areas and identifies means of managing any adverse impacts. The report also considers the application of ecologically sustainable development principles to the operation of the headquarters facility.

"This study has already involved extensive public consultation and will seek further input from local communities before it is finalised," Ms Bailey said.

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Gary Nairn said the collocated headquarters would bring together for the first time Joint, Maritime, Land, Air and Special Operations staff totalling around 1000 people.

"It is estimated that the construction phase alone will inject about $150 million into the Queanbeyan regional economy with up to 250 jobs being created in the construction, communications and information technology sectors," Mr Nairn said.

Ms Bailey said public consultation and involvement was a critical part of the EIS process.

The project is scheduled for referral to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works in early 2004 with the facility to be completed in 2007.

"Members of the public will be able to examine the report to gain an understanding of the project, the potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures.

"Issues raised by the public during the exhibition period will be addressed in a supplementary report which, when combined with the draft EIS, will form the Final EIS. This report will be presented for approval to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage later this year."

Two copies of the draft EIS will be on exhibition from 17 October 2003 at each of the following locations:

• Queanbeyan City Council Library; 257 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan NSW;
• Yarrowlumla Shire Council Offices, 11 Farrer Place, Queanbeyan NSW;
• Bungendore Community Centre, 2 Majara Street, Bungendore NSW;
• Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources NSW Office, 32 Lowe Street, Queanbeyan NSW;
• National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra ACT;
• Environment Australia Library, John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT
• ACT Planning and Land Authority, Dame Pattie Menzies House, 16 Challis Street, Dickson, ACT.
• Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources NSW Information Centre, Henry Deane Building, 20 Lee Street, Sydney, NSW;
• Australian Government Information Shop, 32 York Street, Sydney NSW.

Submission and comments should be made to URS Australia Pty Ltd at:

Address: URS Australia Pty Ltd,

Telephone: 1800 555 991

Fax: (02) 6248 6999