- Facilities to Support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires
Department of Defence
2.1The Department of Defence (Defence) seeks approval from the Committee to proceed with the proposed Facilities to Support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires.
2.2The aim of the works is to enhance the long-range missile capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The long-range missile system is new capability for the ADF, requiring new facilities and supporting infrastructure for the operation and maintenance of new platforms and support vehicles.
2.3The works will be delivered at Puckapunyal Military Area (Victoria) and the Edinburgh Defence Precinct (South Australia).
2.4The estimated cost of delivery of the project is $376.7 million (excluding GST).
2.5The project was referred to the Committee on 6 November 2024.
Conduct of the inquiry
2.6Following referral, the inquiry was published on the Committee’s website.
2.7The Committee received one submission, one confidential submission and one supplementary submission. A list of submissions is available at Appendix A.
2.8On 21 March 2025, the Committee received a private briefing on the works and then conducted a public and in-camera hearing at Australian Parliament House, Canberra. A transcript of the public hearing is available on the Committee’s website.
Need for the works
2.9This project aligns with the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and the 2024 National Defence Strategy, which require the rapid acceleration and expansion of the Army’s land-based maritime strike program.
2.10At the public hearing the Committee heard about the land-based long range strike capability element addressed by these works, known as High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS):
It comes in two components. The first is the launcher vehicle itself, which is the HIMARS launcher—the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. On the back of that you then get a pod, and the pod is what carries the missiles… You can put the pod on the back of a vehicle for transport—on the back of, say, a truck when you're moving explosive ordnance.
2.11The works will address a gap between the ADF’s strike capability and regional military capability by enhancing its ability to engage adversaries through deployable long-range rocket and missile systems. At the hearing Defence explained:
… HIMARS launchers do allow much more rapid redeployment and the ability to move quickly across the battlespace, compared to a static launcher where you're using, for example, a canister, where those pods are fixed to the ground. They are much more mobile and have much more survivability and resilience on a modern battlespace.
Options considered
2.12The following three options were considered for the project:
- Option 1 – Do Nothing. This option means no new investment. No new facilities will be built at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. The existing facilities at the Puckapunyal Military Area will not be improved for training or to support new vehicles and equipment.
- Option 2 – Minimum Viable Capability. This option stays within the budget and includes reusing some facilities at the School of Artillery at Puckapunyal for training, storage, and maintenance. It also involves building new facilities at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct necessary for the operation and maintenance of the long-range fire capability. They include a Regimental Headquarters, three long-range fires batteries, a combat services support battery, an operational support battery, a Quartermaster store, living-in accommodation, a workshop, other supporting infrastructure, and an on-grade car park.
- Option 3 – Full Capability. This option includes everything in Option 2, plus additional living-in accommodation and a multi-storey car park. It uses a mix of existing, refurbished, and new facilities.
- Option 2 is preferred because it provides the minimum necessary facilities and offers the best value for money over the project's lifetime.
- When asked to explain the choice of locations for these works, given the geographical distance between the two sites selected, Defence explained:
The restructure of Army is seeing a number of soldiers and capabilities move north from Adelaide, in particular to the Third Brigade. Those areas are aligned with infantry and armour—so tanks and our soldiers that carry rifles in the infantry battalions. Adelaide provides us with a great opportunity for space when it comes to the facility's works. More importantly, it also provides an opportunity with the airfield that's there, and the capability for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System—HIMARS—to be able to be transported via strategic airlift to the east, west and north. It also has transport routes to the north, east and west, and it has a training range very close by that allows for long-range munitions to be fired.
Scope of the works
2.15The scope of works for Defence’s preferred option includes the following work elements:
2.16School of Artillery, Puckapunyal Military Area:
- adaptive reuse of training facilities, including classrooms, outdoor training areas, and associated amenities
- adaptive reuse of sustainment facilities to house new vehicles
- adaptive reuse of temporary storage facilities for vehicles until facilities at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct are constructed.
- Edinburgh Defence Precinct:
- construction of a Regimental Headquarters, which includes office accommodation with associated support facilities, amenities and an ICT server room
- construction of a combat services support battery, including office accommodation with support facilities, an ICT server room, and a drive-through vehicle shelter on an exterior hardstand
- construction of workshop facilities, including office accommodation, with support facilities and amenities, an ICT server room, storage areas, technical and general vehicle maintenance workshops, vehicle bays, inspection pits, gantry crane, and a hoist bay with storage facilities to support vehicle operations
- construction of an operational support battery, including office accommodation, conference room, support facilities, vehicle shelters and radio storage facilities
- construction of a Quartermaster store, including office accommodation, meeting room, support facilities, armoury, warehouse and storage
- construction of a regimental guard room, including office accommodation, sleeping quarters, a training facility and other support facilities and amenities
- construction of living-in accommodation for permanent Other Ranks personnel
- construction of services infrastructure allowing for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), hydraulics, electrical, mechanical, fire, and civil works
- road upgrades and car parking.
- In the event that savings are achieved through tendering or retiring risk provision, Defence will construct additional living-in accommodation and additional car parking as below the line additional scope.
Community and stakeholder consultation
2.19Defence has consulted about the works with local residents and other interested stakeholders, so that they may have the opportunity to provide input into and raise any concerns about the proposed works. Defence has engaged with the following stakeholders:
- Federal Member for Spence, Mr Matt Burnell MP
- Federal Member for Makin, Mr Tony Zappia MP
- South Australian Member for Taylor, Mr Nick Champion MP
- Premier of South Australia, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP
- Mayor of the City of Salisbury, Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM
- City of Salisbury Councillor, Cr David Hood, JP
- Mayor of the City of Playford, Mayor Glenn Docherty
- City of Playford Deputy Mayor, Cr Clint Marsh
- Mayor of the Mitchell Shire Council, Mayor Louise Bannister
- Mitchell Shire Councillor, Cr Bill Chisholm
- Mitchell Shire Councillor, Cr Fiona Stevens
- Mitchell Shire Councillor, Cr Rhonda Sanderson
- the Kaurna People
- Defence SA
- Business South Australia
- Master Builders Association
- Salisbury Business Association
- local community groups.
- Defence advertised the project by publishing in newspapers, sending out letters, creating a project webpage, and holding two community information sessions in Adelaide. The community information sessions, both held on 22 August 2024, were each two hours long and attracted 1 participant, the Mayor for the City of Playford. The Mayor was interested in the employment prospects the project may create for the region and the budget of the project.
Cost of the works
2.21The project’s budget is $376.7 million (excluding GST). The cost estimate includes management and design fees, construction, information and communications technology, furniture, fittings, equipment, contingencies and a provision for escalation.
2.22There will be ongoing operating and sustainment costs as a result of the project. This is due to the increased capability being provided by the project which will require additional maintenance, cleaning and utilities expenses to operate and maintain the new facilities and infrastructure.
2.23At the public hearing, the Committee heard about how the costing of the works differed between the Adelaide and Victorian sites and was satisfied:
The cost plan is based on locality of the project, so the rate to prepare is based on, for Adelaide, an Edinburgh-facing project, and then for Puckapunyal it's based on the Victoria rate. For Puckapunyal, we also take into consideration that it is also a refurbishment project, so the general rate might not necessarily work, so we also look into the productivity of the work that is required to be done. It is also a remote area, so the additional loading for locality has been included in the cost.
Revenue
2.24There will be no revenue generated by the project.
Public value
2.25Defence has identified the following aspects of the works which will provide public value:
- Economic Impacts – The project will spend money that helps the Australian economy, especially in construction and professional services in the greater Adelaide and Central Victorian areas and nearby regions.
- Employment Opportunities – The project will hire various consultants, contractors, and construction workers. It will also create chances for training and skill development, helping people improve their skills and get better jobs in the future.
- Local Industry and Indigenous Business Involvement – Defence and the main contractor will encourage small and medium local businesses to get involved through construction trade packages. The main contractor will create a Local Industry Capability Plan and an Indigenous Participation Plan to show how they will work with local and Indigenous businesses, ensuring good value for money for the Commonwealth.
Committee comment
2.26The Committee did not identify any issues or concerns with the proposal, and it is satisfied that the project has merit in terms of need, scope and cost.
2.27The Committee notes the critical importance of developing a long-range fire missile platform to enhance Australia's defence capacity. These advancements are essential for maintaining national security and ensuring the country's preparedness for future threats.
2.28The Committee urges Defence to maintain vigilance around the value for money use of Commonwealth funds, ensuring that the proposed works, and all works, iteratively identify fit-for-purpose designs which are best value and deliver effective use of funds.
2.29The Committee requests again that a strategy for the use of social media be included in Defence’s consultation processes. The Committee suggests that this will enhance public engagement with Defence works, keeping local communities better informed about works being delivered in their areas.
2.30Having regard to its role and responsibilities contained in the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the Committee is of the view that this project signifies value for money for the Commonwealth and constitutes a project which is fit-for-purpose, having regard to the established need.
2.31The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed works: Department of Defence — Facilities to Support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires.
2.32Proponent entities must notify the Committee of any changes to the project scope, time, cost, function or design. The Committee also requires that a post implementation report be provided within three months of project completion. A report template can be found on the Committee’s website.