A new $800 million defence training area will be constructed near Greenvale in North Queensland by Australasian construction company CPB Contractors Pty. Ltd. after winning a contract from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
After an initial $23.5 million development contract, CPB Contractors will then be engaged to deliver the $800 million facilities under the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI), the Department of Defence announced on Nov. 17.
Construction would then begin by mid-2022 and is expected to create 350 jobs for workers as part of the Greenvale Training Area’s major works.
The new facilities will deliver advanced military training areas in Central and North Queensland while meeting the future needs of the ADF.
Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds said the contract marked a significant milestone for the ASMTI.
“These advanced training areas being delivered under the ASMTI will benefit the ADF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), while enhancing our bilateral relationship and providing significant local economic opportunities for North Queensland,” Reynolds said.
When the initiative is up and running up to 14,000 SAF personnel will conduct training in Central and North Queensland for up to 18-weeks-a-year for 25 years.
Reynolds said this would provide enduring economic benefits to the region.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said significant construction work would bring substantial economic opportunities to the region, including 90 percent of the workforce being sourced from the North Queensland region surrounding the proposed training area.
“This is a massive investment that will ensure local business can take advantage of the opportunities arising from construction of the new Defence training area,” Price said. “CPB Contractors has also committed to sourcing four percent of the contracted price from Indigenous enterprises and at least four percent of the full-time workforce from Indigenous Australians.”
Townsville-based senator for Queensland, Susan McDonald said the Morrison government is committed to maximising the participation of Australian businesses.
“This initiative is already delivering significant economic benefits for Queensland through the ASMTI,” McDonald said. “This will only continue to increase when construction commences in mid-2022.”
CPB Contractors are already looking for contractors to carry out early works in Greenvale in value between $50,000 and $4 million, which includes fencing, signage, contamination remediation, and construction of firebreaks.
