Tuesday, 9 May 2006

074/2006

$4.1 MILLION IN DEFENCE SPENDING FOR THE ACT

Defence facilities in the Australian Capital Territory will benefit from more than $4.1 million in funding for 2006-07.

$50,000 has been allocated to approved Defence facilities projects. A further $4.1 million will be spent on Defence Estate upkeep works.

Additional expenditure is expected to be announced during the year as the HMAS Creswell Redevelopment is considered for approval.

Capital Facilities Projects for the Australian Capital Territory include:

Mary Creek Remediation

This project will remediate and manage groundwater contamination present in the headwaters of Mary Creek and remediate ground contamination adjacent to the Jervis Bay Airfield. Sampling and monitoring contamination levels along Mary Creek will continue for the next five years.

Program of Works (State, Federal Electorate and Locality)	Total Estimated Expenditure $m	Estimated Expenditure to 30 June 2006 $m	Budget Estimate 2006-07 $m
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Fraser
Jervis Bay – Mary Creek Remediation	1.1	0.38	0.05

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 the Australian Capital Territory over the next three years. During 2006-07 this will be approximately $4.1 million.

Examples of works to be undertaken in the Australian Capital Territory include:

• refurbishment of scientific research laboratories at Fern Hill;
• repairs to the 25 metre firing range at Majura;
• environmental management works; and
• cardiac protection to electrical circuits at the medical centre at Duntroon .

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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