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Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has announced that a new military training area in north Queensland has reached a significant milestone with completion of the first piece of infrastructure in the reinvigorated Australia-Singapore strategic partnership.
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The $5.4 million explosive ordnance storage earth covered building (ECB) at Mt Stuart in Townsville was funded by Singapore under the $2.25 billion Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI).
Minister Reynolds said the Singapore Armed Forces will now have access to explosive ordnance storage when they train in Australia.
"This project is a significant milestone for the ASMTI, and coincides with the start of early construction work on the new training area near Greenvale in north Queensland. The ASMTI will deliver advanced military training areas in central and north Queensland while meeting the future needs of the Australian Defence Force," Minister Reynolds explained.
Australia and Singapore enjoy a long history of bilateral and multilateral defence co-operation, through organisations including the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
The Australia-Singapore defence relationship includes the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which provides for the joint development of military training areas and facilities in Australia and Singapore to continue to exploit the benefits derived from the development of Exercise TRIDENT as the signature bilateral joint military exercise.
Member for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, OAM, said the completion of the ECB was a boost to the local economy.
"It’s fantastic to see 17 companies from the Townsville region provided essential services to support construction of the ECB, including concrete supply, concrete reinforcement, waterproofing, electrical and communications works, fire protection, structural steel, civil works, security, site accommodation, mechanical works, painting and rendering," Thompson said.
The CSP will enable Australia and Singapore to work together on defence science and technology, in areas including combat systems/command, control, communications, computers and intelligence integration; and cognitive/human systems integration.
The ASMTI is delivering enhanced training areas for the Australian Defence Force in central and north Queensland, enhancing Australia’s bilateral defence relationship with Singapore and providing significant local economic opportunities.
Over the life of the ASMTI, there will be an injection of about $2 billion into Queensland’s regional economies, including an estimated $50 million spent annually during the construction phase.
Additional work packages for fencing, potable water supply, waste consumption, fuel supply, consumables and quarry products will be awarded as part of an anticipated 200 sub-contract packages that will be available over the next five years in central Queensland.
Defence will hold information sessions in the Charters Towers and Townsville regions as part of the next release of work packages in north Queensland.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
