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Military training facilities, housing interoperability exercises between Australia and Singapore, will now be built in north and central Queensland after the state government secured a lease from the Commonwealth.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the finalisation of leasing arrangements for land at Greenvale and Shoalwater Bay, as part of an infrastructure development program supporting the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative.
The sites are now expected to be transformed into modern military training facilities, serving as bases for collaborative exercises between the Australian Defence Force and the Singapore Armed Forces over the next 25 years.
Approximately 14,000 Singapore Armed Forces personnel arrive in Queensland each year for a duration of roughly 18 weeks.
The project, which forms part of the Queensland government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, is tipped to generate 600 new jobs and support the growth of the local defence industry.
“This base will inject millions of dollars into our economy and create local jobs,” Premier Palaszczuk said.
“Our defence industry has great potential for growth in central and north Queensland. We’re working hard to grow this sector to rebuild our economy and create opportunities for locals.”
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the finalisation of the leasing arrangement followed almost four years of negotiations with the Commonwealth government.
Minister Stewart noted the financial benefits of the Greenvale project, which he expects to generate over $36 million to the north Queensland economy each year.
“This complex land project sets the foundations for long-lasting economic benefits, which will continue to serve Queenslanders for generations to come,” he added.
Over 70 land tenures have been processed for the planned development of the 302,000-hectare Greenvale site, located 200 kilometres north-west of Townsville,
Member for Mundingburra Les Walker welcomed the benefits for Townsville.
“Mundingburra is home to Lavarack Barracks and Defence personnel are such an important part of the community,” Walker said.
“Townsville has a proud and long military history and the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative will continue this legacy.”
Construction of the Greenvale facility is scheduled to commence mid-2022, while work has already commenced for the expansion of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, north of Rockhampton.
[Related: Australia, Singapore mark 30 years of defence collaboration]
