21,000 jobs to be created as Central Queensland unveils plan for new military base

Brisbane’s Enoggera army barracks could be converted into a space and cyber warfighting hub and its 7th Brigade relocated under a $4.5 billion proposal to establish Central Queensland as Australia’s new ADF powerhouse.

Enoggera’s army barracks could be converted into a space and cyber warfighting hub and its 7th Brigade relocated under a $4.5 billion proposal to establish Central Queensland as Australia’s new ADF powerhouse.

Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils yesterday released its Defence Strategy in a bold bid to relocate key military assets in a move that would create 21,000 new jobs and address the emerging threat in the South Pacific.

The council body – made up of Rockhampton, Gladstone, Livingstone, Central Highlands, Woorabinda and Banana shires – is advocating for the ADF to build new military bases and relocate the 7th Brigade to the region in coming years, in a move which is supported by Senator Matt Canavan.

It would arm the ADF with the ability to launch longer strike missiles and be closer to any emerging threats in the South Pacific.

The 48-page Defence Strategy states the ADF needs a “step-change in its force posture” to generate and sustain the next generation of military advantage and highlights the needs for bolstering defence had “accelerated faster than anticipated”.

It said that new military facilities closer to emerging security threats in the South Pacific were “urgently” needed.

United States Marine Corps 3rd Battalion watching a live-fire demonstration at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, which could become Australia’s new defence home.

The proposed strategy would give Australia’s military powers to launch longer-range strike missiles, respond to electronic warfare and information operations and support civil authorities in natural disasters and crises.

According to the document, the Army’s 7th Bridge has “outgrown” its home at the Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera – which is surrounded and constrained by suburbia and is a high cost of living destination for Army personnel and families.

“To ensure Army’s 7th Brigade can be ready now and future ready, it needs to be relocated to a new base adjacent to its primary training area,” it read.

“More training, more often will strengthen 7th Brigade’s capabilities to defend Australia and its interests.

“Relocating Army’s 7th Brigade to Central Queensland also enables the use of Gallipoli Barracks to become the leading location for new warfighting capabilities in the domains of space, and information and cyber.”

The Enoggera headquarters is one of Australia’s largest military bases and includes armoured, artillery, infantry and other combat service units.

The proposal comes after comments made by Federal Defence minister Peter Dutton on ANZAC Day, warning Australia should “prepare for war” on the back of China’s increased presence in the South Pacific and the country’s new contentious security agreement with Solomon Islands.

The Defence Strategy includes establishing a new Army Barracks in Rockhampton, a RAAF base at Rockhampton Airport, a Fleet Base North at Gladstone Port and a School of Armour at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Australian Defence Force training at Shoalwater Bay Training Area

The barracks would be home to the now Enoggera-based 7th Brigade, and future US Marines and British Armed Forces rotations, the RAAF base would be home to the South Pacific Maritime Surveillance capability to the RAAF’s No92 Wing and the RAN base would be home to its east coast fleet which includes Australia’s new nuclear submarines.

The council’s also seek federal support for a centralised depot of Army armoured vehicles, a new Arm School of Armour and a “battalion plus” sized Army Reserve unit in the CQ region.

CQROC deputy chair and Livingstone Shire Mayor Andy Ireland said Central Queensland was an ideal location because it’s already home to Australia’s most advanced military training area at Shoalwater Bay.

“Building new bases in the region will enable quicker response times to strategic threats in the region, more training more often, better security for our Northern Approaches and the South Pacific and more secure and self-reliant supply chains,” Cr Ireland said in a statement.

“A centralised armoured vehicle storage and maintenance depot could be built at Shoalwater Bay Training Area to overcome the challenge of moving the ADF’s new over-size and over-mass combat vehicles between bases and training areas.

If delivered the move would create 21,866 new jobs, bring an additional 36,618 residents to Central Queensland in a $4.5bn economic boost to the region however, it was understood no timeline has been established.

It follows the 2016 Defence White Paper which outlined the need to increase investment in military bases, ports and airfields in Northern Australia.

Rockhampton-based Senator Matt Canavan said he fully supported the proposal put forward by the councils and would continue to advocate it on a Federal level.

“I will continue to push this. It is a logical case and makes common sense,” Mr Canavan said.

Following a Federal Government announcement to grow its ADF personnel in March this year, Mr Canavan and Capricornia MP Michelle Landry wrote to the Prime Minister to support a permanent based military presence in Rockhampton.

Ms Landry said strengthening defence capabilities had never been more critical as Australia “strives to protect its people and its national interests”.