Tuesday, 9 May 2006

068/2006

$97.9 MILLION IN DEFENCE FUNDING FOR VICTORIA

Defence facilities in Victoria will benefit from $97.9 million in funding for 2006-07.

$67.8 million has been allocated to approved Defence facilities projects. A further $30.1 million will be spent on Defence Estate upkeep works.

The investment in Victoria will see significant funds being allocated to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation facilities at Fishermans Bend, including the construction of high technology research and laboratory facilities.

The RAAF College will be relocated to RAAF East Sale and RAAF Wagga from RAAF Williams (Point Cook) and RAAF Edinburgh.

Approved capital facilities projects for Victoria include:

RAAF College Relocation – East Sale and Wagga

This project will relocate the RAAF College from RAAF Williams (Point Cook) and RAAF Edinburgh to RAAF East Sale and RAAF Wagga (NSW). The project will provide working accommodation, training facilities, and living-in accommodation for College staff and students. Construction commenced in April 2006 and is expected to be completed in mid-2008.

Fishermans Bend – Relocation of Defence Science and Technology Organisation Platforms Sciences Laboratory

This project will relocate Defence Science and Technology Organisation functions from Maribyrnong to Fishermans Bend and includes the integration of common functions and the construction of enhanced research and laboratory facilities. Key elements scheduled for 2006-07 include construction of a conference centre, continued fit-out of the Human Protection and Performance Division building and further work to Maritime Platforms Division facilities.

Geelong – Construction of Army Multi-User Depot

This project will consolidate and rationalise a number of Reserve depots into a single location in Geelong , with redevelopment of Myers Street Depot, including renovation, demolition and new building works.

Program of Major Works (by State, Federal Electorate and Locality)	Total Estimated Expenditure $m (1)	Estimated Cumulative Expenditure to 30 June 2006 $m	Budget Estimate 2006-07 $m
VICTORIA
Melbourne Ports
Fishermans Bend: Relocation of Defence Science and Technology Organisation Platforms Sciences Laboratory	106.3	62.6	35.0
Gippsland
RAAF East Sale : College Relocation (2)	66.7	5.0	31.0
Total Victoria (3)	172.9	67.6	66.0

Note

1. Totals may not add due to rounding.
2. The RAAF College Relocation Wagga / East Sale budget of $133.4 million covers both locations i.e. RAAF East Sale ( Victoria ) and RAAF Wagga (NSW). The individual project budgets are anticipated budgets.
3. A further $1.8 million will be expended on approved medium projects not detailed in this table.

Additional expenditure is expected to be announced during the year as further projects are considered for approval. Projects scheduled for Victoria include the Defence Force School of Signals at Watsonia and the relocation of the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation at Bendigo.

Estate Upkeep

The Government will meet its 2004-05 budget announcement to provide an additional $300 million over three years from 2005-06 to meet increasing costs of maintaining the Defence estate. The additional funding will bring planned expenditure on Defence estate upkeep to approximately $381.8 million during 2006-07.

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 Victoria over the next three years. During 2006-07 this will be approximately $30.1 million.

Examples of works to be undertaken in Victoria include:

• repairs to fuel storage facilities;
• installation of non-slip floor coverings to workshops at Fisherman's Bend;
• road safety works at RAAF East Sale;
• repairs to sewer mains at HMAS CERBERUS; and
• repairs to gas reticulation at Simpson Barracks Watsonia.

Media contacts

Nigel Blunden	(Dr Nelson)	02 6277 7800	0407 632 931
Rachel Kingsford Smith	(Senator Sandy Macdonald)	02 6277 3705	0408 019 537
Defence Media Liaison		02 6265 3343	0408 498 664

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