House of Representatives Committees

Chapter 1 Introduction

Referral of Work
Background
Site
Options Considered
Inquiry Process
Inspection and Hearing

Referral of Work

1.1

On 29 March 2007 the proposed provision of facilities for Project Single LEAP Phase 2 was referred to the Public Works Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Act 1969 (the Act).1 The proponent agency for this work is the Department of Defence.

1.2

The Hon Peter Lindsay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence informed the House that the estimated out-turn cost of the project is $1.2 billion net present value and will involve a regular service payment by Defence over thirty years for buildings, infrastructure, facilities, management services, maintenance and life cycle costs. Subject to Parliamentary approval, construction is planned to commence in early 2009 and be completed by 2012.

 

Background

1.3

In June 2003 Defence published the report “A Review of Accommodation Arrangements for ADF Members Without Dependents”. The Review, based on previous living in accommodation (LIA) reviews, existing data sources, base visits, stakeholder consultation, modelling and international comparative studies, found that over 36,000 rooms were in generally poor state and that over 25,400 rooms did not meet current building standards or were located in areas on bases no longer suitable for residential purposes. It also set out, in addition to providing a long term strategy for the future provision of LIA, funding options aimed at improving living in accommodation.2

1.4

To address these issues, the Report proposed a strategy aimed at:

1.5

Further, the Review identified a requirement of over $2 billion in funding to resolve these deficiencies in the LIA estate. Following on the release of the Review, and against the background of a Force Disposition Review conducted in February 2004, the Defence People Committee proposed a priority list of 6,361 rooms at various locations as the most effective use for any future LIA funding.4

1.6

A subsequent submission to Government sought funding to address the issue and as part of the 2004-2005 Budget the Government announced Project Single Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct (LEAP) to remediate up to 6,400 permanent rooms nationwide.

 

Site

1.7

The proposed works are to be undertaken on seventeen bases spread across mainland Australia. These are:

 

Options Considered

1.8

The approach to Project Single LEAP Phase 2 aims to deliver the required standard of improved living in accommodation at the sites referred to above, within an acceptable time frame, and within the allocated budget. In order to achieve this outcome Defence considered the following options:

Inquiry Process

1.9

The Committee is required by the Act to consider public works over $15 million7 and report to Parliament on:

1.10

The Committee called for submissions by advertising the inquiry in The Australian, The Adelaide Advertiser, The N.T News, The Age ( Melbourne), The West Australia, The Canberra Times, and The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, 7 April 2007. The Committee also sought submissions from relevant government agencies, local government, private organisations and individuals, who may be materially affected by or have an interest in the proposed work. The Committee subsequently placed submissions and other information relating to the inquiry on its web site in order to encourage further public participation.

 

Inspection and Hearing

1.11

Because of the number of sites that are the subject of the proposed works, the Committee was constrained by the availability of Members and the Parliamentary calendar to undertake inspections of all sites. Site inspections were however conducted at the following sites: Lavarack Barracks, Townsville; Robertson and Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin; RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia; the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College, ACT, and Randwick Barracks. The Committee proposes to undertake further site inspections should the opportunity be available to do so.

1.12

On Friday 11 May 2007, the Committee received a confidential briefing from officers of the Department of Defence on the costs of the proposed works associated with Project Single LEAP Phase 2 at Parliament House Canberra. This was followed by a public hearing at the same venue.



Footnotes

1 Extract from the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, No. 164, Thursday 29 March 2007 Back
2

Appendix C, Submission No. 1, paragraphs 3 and 4 Back

3

ibid., paragraph 5 Back

4 In its Statement of Evidence, Defence proposed that a total of 6,742 LIA rooms, including 381 raining rooms were determined as a priority by the Defence People Strategy Committee. In evidence, Defence stated that training rooms had been removed as a priority. See Appendix D for the official transcript of the evidence taken by the Committee at the Public Hearing on Friday 11 May, 2007 at Parliament House Canberra, p. 21 Back
5

Appendix C, Submission No. 1, paragraph 31 Back

6

ibid., paragraph 25 Back

7

Public Works Committee Act 1969, Part III, Section 18 (8) Back

8

ibid, Section 17 Back

Print Chapter 1(PDF 170KB) < - Report Home < - Preliminary Pages  : Chapter 2 - >

Back to top

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased people.