$268 MILLION FOR C-17 FACILITIES AT AMBERLEY, EDINBURGH, DARWIN, PEARCE AND TOWNSVILLE

I am pleased to announce that the Government will commit $268.2 million for the delivery of facilities and infrastructure to support the new C-17 Heavy Air Lift capability.

The C-17 Infrastructure project will deliver the necessary permanent facilities and airfield pavements to support C-17 operations at its home base, RAAF Base Amberley, and expanded infrastructure at deployment bases RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Darwin, Pearce and Townsville to allow the large aircraft to operate effectively.

The proposed project budget is $268.2 million.  This project will allow the C-17 aircraft to provide a new responsive global air-lift capability that will significantly enhance the Australian Defence Force’s ability to support national and international operations as well as major disaster relief and rescue efforts. 

This project will generate a significant amount of short-term employment opportunities for skilled consultants, sub-contractors and construction workers in each of the five regions that encompass the home and deployment bases.

Subject to Parliamentary clearance of the works, construction is planned to start in early 2008 and is expected to be complete by 2011. 

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