Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence - Defence to sell land on Brisbane River

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Hon Darren Chester MP today met with government representatives to discuss the future of the Bulimba Barracks site in Brisbane.

“Today I met with the Federal Member for Griffith, Terri Butler, the State Member for Bulimba, Di Farmer, and Morningside Councillor Shayne Sutton,” Mr Chester said.

“I advised them that the Department of Defence has decided to sell around 20 hectares of the Bulimba Barracks site, which fronts onto the Brisbane River.

”Defence will retain some of the site for Navy personnel, Reserves and Cadets, while other ADF personnel will relocate to RAAF Base Amberley later this year, freeing up the 20 hectares.”

Mr Chester said the Defence estate was ageing and the cost of sustaining it was expensive and increasing. Selling the majority of the Bulimba site will reduce Defence’s maintenance costs.

During today‘s meeting Mr Chester discussed the proposed sale.

“Surplus Defence property is generally sold on the open market, however, direct sales to local and state government are allowed in some circumstances,” Mr Chester said.

“Once the property is sold, it will be a matter for the new owner and local and state planning authorities to determine the future uses for the property.”

Mr Chester said the property would not be immediately put up for sale.

“It might be some time before the property is sold,” he said.

“Defence still needs to complete its due diligence before selling the site, including environmental site assessments which have recently commenced.”

Defence will keep the public informed by posting information on a project website, www.defence.gov.au/id/PropertyDisposals, which will go live in the next few weeks.

Media contact:

Robert Curtin (Darren Chester's Office) (02) 6277 4029

Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999