ROBERTSON BARRACKS REDEVELOPMENT GIVEN ‘GO AHEAD’

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, and the Federal Member for Solomon, Damian Hale MP, announced today that a $72.1 million redevelopment proposal for Robertson Barracks in Darwin has received Parliamentary approval.

The proposal includes three projects, the Robertson Barracks Redevelopment project at a cost of $30.2 million, the Robertson Replacement Tank Facilities project at a cost of $6.7 million and the Hardened and Networked Army project at Robertson Barracks at a cost of $35.2 million. 

“The Robertson Barracks Redevelopment project will upgrade existing facilities to meet the requirements of current Army units,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“The Robertson Replacement Tank Facilities Project will deliver the facilities to support the new Abrams tank fleet, while the Hardened and Networked Army project at Robertson Barracks will involve the provision of new and refurbished facilities to support the Army’s response to the need to fight on a more complex and lethal battlefield,” he said.

The Hardened and Networked Army initiative will allow the Army to operate better into the future.  It will greatly strengthen the Army’s protection, mobility, fire power and communications.  It will allow operations in more complex, dangerous and uncertain environments.

“Providing new high quality facilities and infrastructure to our Defence Forces allows them to better undertake their valuable work,” Mr Hale said.

“I am delighted that the troops at Robertson Barracks are going to have some of the best facilities the Army has to offer,” he said.

Construction is planned to commence in mid-2009 and be completed by mid-2011.

Media contacts:

Jack Smith (Joel Fitzgibbon):                                  02 6277 7800 or 0408 116 423

Defence Media Liaison:                                           02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664