The Hon. Teresa Gambaro, MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
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10 May 2005
BUDGET 2005-06
More than $75 million in Defence funding for the Northern Territory
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Teresa Gambaro said the Northern Territory would benefit from approved Defence facilities projects totalling approximately $64 million in the 2005-06 Budget.
"Subject to Defence planning processes, approximately $11 million will also be spent in 2005-06 on Defence estate upkeep works.
"The investments in Northern Territory will support important new equipment for Defence capability in the form of Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters and Armidale Class Patrol Boats,' Ms Gambaro said.
Some 6179 members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Defence personnel are based in the Northern Territory.
Approved capital facilities projects for the Northern Territory include:
Timber Creek - Bradshaw Field Training Area Infrastructure
Work will continue on providing engineering services and infrastructure to allow the use of Bradshaw as a field training area for 1st Brigade. Construction commenced in June 2004 and is scheduled for completion in late 2005.
Darwin - 1st Aviation Regiment Relocation
This project is providing new facilities for the 1st Aviation Regiment at Robertson Barracks in Darwin and includes purpose-built working, training and domestic accommodation facilities. Construction commenced in April 2004 and is scheduled for completion in late 2005.
Bathurst Island - Tactical Air Defence Radar System
The objective of this project is to establish a new permanent Tactical Air Defence Radar Site at Pt Fawcett, Bathurst Island. Construction commenced in August 2004 and is scheduled for completion in late 2005.
Katherine - RAAF Tindal - Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile / Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile Secure Facility
Work will continue on the project which aims to upgrade and enhance existing infrastructure and provide a secure storage facility. Construction is scheduled for completion in mid 2005.
Darwin - Darwin Naval Base - Wharf Upgrade for Patrol Boats
An Upgrade of Patrol Boat Facilities at Darwin Naval Base to support the safe and effective operations of the new Armidale Class Patrol Boats, commencing with a wharf extension and upgrade of services works package. Construction commenced in January 2005 and is scheduled for completion in late 2005.
Darwin - Married Quarters Electrical Upgrade
The purpose of this project is to continue to improve the electrical reticulation to the RAAF Darwin Married Quarters. Construction commenced in August 2004 and is scheduled for completion in mid 2005.
| Program of Works (State, Federal Electorate and Locality) |
Total Estimated Expenditure $million |
Estimated Expenditure to 30 June 2005 $million |
Budget Estimate 2005-06 $million |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lingiari | |||
| Timber Creek - Bradshaw Field Training Area Infrastructure | 64.8 | 39.3 | 23.0 |
| Bathurst Island - Tactical Air Defence Radar System | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.5 |
| Katherine - RAAF Tindal - Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Secure Facility / Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile Secure Facility | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| Solomon | |||
| Darwin - 1st Aviation Regiment Relocation | 82.0 | 50.2 | 31.8 |
| Darwin - Darwin Naval Base - Wharf Upgrade for Patrol Boats | 5.5 | 1.7 | 3.8 |
| Darwin - Married Quarters Electrical Upgrade | 4.9 | 4.3 | 0.6 |
| Darwin - Special Operations Forward Mounting Facility | 2.5 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Total Northern Territory | 167.1 | 100.7 | 63.8 |
Some totals may slightly vary from PBS due to rounding.
Additional expenditure is expected to be announced during the year as further projects are considered for approval. Projects scheduled for Northern Territory include Darwin Naval Base Patrol Boat Facilities and Mount Bundy Urban Operations Training Facility.
Estate Upkeep
The Government will meet its 2004-05 commitment to provide an additional $300 million over three years from 2005-06 to meet increasing costs of maintaining the national Defence estate. The additional funding will bring planned expenditure on Defence estate upkeep to approximately $330 million per annum for the next three 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 programme of estate upkeep works is developed and revised each year. The further funding is expected to result in additional expenditure on estate upkeep in the Northern Territory over the next three years. During 2005-06 this will be approximately $11 million.
Examples of works to be undertaken in the Northern Territory include:
- Airfield maintenance at RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal and Curtin.
- Provision of improved working accommodation for the Army Financial Services Unit at Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin.
- Development of the driver training area at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.
- Environmental management works at Mount Bundey Training Area.
- Dredging works at Darwin Naval Base.
Media contacts:
Michelle Smytheman (Parliamentary Secretary) 02 6277 4433 0418 777 498
Defence Media Liaison 02 6265 3343 0408 498 664
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