Mr KIELY - 2003-10-14
A hard-working subcontractor I know in Sanderson purchased a backhoe and asked me about work opportunities at Robertson Barracks. Would the minister please update the House on the status of involvement of local firms in the delivery of Defence infrastructure projects at Robertson Barracks?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson and his hard-working constituent for their particular question. Yes, we, as a government, and through the department, have increased resources put to the Defence Support Division within my department. We are working very strategically with Defence and the lead contractors in maximising Territory involvement in the major projects that are coming through.
On 21 August this year, the federal parliamentary committee gave approval to the commencement of $75m worth of works at Robertson Barracks to provide for the relocation of the 1st Aviation Regiment. As members will know, this will now be the home to 17 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters, as well as providing maintenance, command, training and domestic facilities. The Chief Minister has been to France to meet with the board of Eurocopter. I have visited their offices in Sydney on a couple occasions. A few weeks ago, principals of that organisation were in Darwin working with the department and through the Australian Industry and Defence Network, Darwin branch, looking at the capacity and capability of Territory businesses, not only for the construction phase but, more importantly, through the through life support for those helicopters when they are here. They were very impressed with the capability of engineering companies currently working in that aviation space based at Darwin Airport, and are forming very strategic, and what I am absolutely certain will be long-lasting relationships with some companies there.
However, in regards to the capital works at Robertson Barracks, a number of discrete packages of work under head contracts will be delivered. Preliminary planning indicates there will be a minimum of four head contracts. These are early works and services to deliver site clearance and in-ground services - drainage, access and building pads. The second head contract will be airside works to deliver command control, operational, administrative and logistics facilities for the flying elements of the regiment. This could be further split into three packages: command facilities, workshop facilities, air shelters and pavements. Logistics works will deliver facilities including stores, vehicle shelters and general workshops; and domestic accommodation of 110 units. We are working with Territory businesses who are the likely lead companies to bid for those prime contracts.
A consortium of local project management firms, Connell Wagner and Savant, have been appointed to the projects and have already led the project through the conceptual design review stage, with Defence stakeholders. It is also pleasing to note that local firm Spowers Architects, in collaboration with Conrad and Cargett, have been appointed as design architects and are already under way with the concept plans. It is important to note, when you think of capital works and construction, it is all bulldozers, blocklayers and the trades. However, behind that is a massive engineering, design and drafting phase, and all of these are important elements of our economy. The design team also comprises a number of prominent Territory firms including Sinclair Knight Merz, Clive Towell Quantity Surveyors, Townes Chappell Mudgway, and Clouston Landscape Architects. Forty management and design professionals are extensively committed to this phase of the project. The construction phase is expected to employ approximately 150 people on site, with additional job opportunities in the design and manufacturing sector.
We are working very closely with business and industry in the Territory, and also with Defence, in understanding how they are parcelling up this work, encouraging them to break these parcels up into segments to allow for the size and scale of Territory business to enter into partnerships with primes, to maximise local content on these Defence projects. I commend the hard work that my departmental staff do in this area, as well as the companies involved in AIDN in the Northern Territory, for working very constructively on these projects.
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson and his hard-working constituent for their particular question. Yes, we, as a government, and through the department, have increased resources put to the Defence Support Division within my department. We are working very strategically with Defence and the lead contractors in maximising Territory involvement in the major projects that are coming through.
On 21 August this year, the federal parliamentary committee gave approval to the commencement of $75m worth of works at Robertson Barracks to provide for the relocation of the 1st Aviation Regiment. As members will know, this will now be the home to 17 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters, as well as providing maintenance, command, training and domestic facilities. The Chief Minister has been to France to meet with the board of Eurocopter. I have visited their offices in Sydney on a couple occasions. A few weeks ago, principals of that organisation were in Darwin working with the department and through the Australian Industry and Defence Network, Darwin branch, looking at the capacity and capability of Territory businesses, not only for the construction phase but, more importantly, through the through life support for those helicopters when they are here. They were very impressed with the capability of engineering companies currently working in that aviation space based at Darwin Airport, and are forming very strategic, and what I am absolutely certain will be long-lasting relationships with some companies there.
However, in regards to the capital works at Robertson Barracks, a number of discrete packages of work under head contracts will be delivered. Preliminary planning indicates there will be a minimum of four head contracts. These are early works and services to deliver site clearance and in-ground services - drainage, access and building pads. The second head contract will be airside works to deliver command control, operational, administrative and logistics facilities for the flying elements of the regiment. This could be further split into three packages: command facilities, workshop facilities, air shelters and pavements. Logistics works will deliver facilities including stores, vehicle shelters and general workshops; and domestic accommodation of 110 units. We are working with Territory businesses who are the likely lead companies to bid for those prime contracts.
A consortium of local project management firms, Connell Wagner and Savant, have been appointed to the projects and have already led the project through the conceptual design review stage, with Defence stakeholders. It is also pleasing to note that local firm Spowers Architects, in collaboration with Conrad and Cargett, have been appointed as design architects and are already under way with the concept plans. It is important to note, when you think of capital works and construction, it is all bulldozers, blocklayers and the trades. However, behind that is a massive engineering, design and drafting phase, and all of these are important elements of our economy. The design team also comprises a number of prominent Territory firms including Sinclair Knight Merz, Clive Towell Quantity Surveyors, Townes Chappell Mudgway, and Clouston Landscape Architects. Forty management and design professionals are extensively committed to this phase of the project. The construction phase is expected to employ approximately 150 people on site, with additional job opportunities in the design and manufacturing sector.
We are working very closely with business and industry in the Territory, and also with Defence, in understanding how they are parcelling up this work, encouraging them to break these parcels up into segments to allow for the size and scale of Territory business to enter into partnerships with primes, to maximise local content on these Defence projects. I commend the hard work that my departmental staff do in this area, as well as the companies involved in AIDN in the Northern Territory, for working very constructively on these projects.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016