Cairns set to benefit from Defence shake-up

Two Far North bases could see significant investment after the release of the Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review. See the report explained here.

The release of the Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review is a “golden opportunity” for the Far North, with the possibility of a revamp of a Cape York air base and more navy vessels roaming the region’s waters.

The Royal Australian Navy base at HMAS Cairns and the Royal Australian Air Force Base Scherger near Weipa are set to benefit from renewed focus on Australia’s North in a time of greater international uncertainty.

Advance Cairns chair Nick Trompf said the language of the review reveals the great significance the Far North will play in Australia’s future defence planning.

“The focus of the review is to the north and north east in particular,” Mr Trompf said.

“They have released six pillars or top priorities with two of those having massive significance for Cairns and the Far North.”

“The first is improving the ADF’s ability to operate from Australia’s northern bases, this will almost certainly involve HMAS Cairns and RAAF Base Scherger.”

“The second is deepening of our diplomatic and defence partnerships with key partners in the Indo-Pacific.

Fijian navy guardian class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca departs the Cairns naval base HMAS Cairns, navigating Trinity Inlet and heading towards the Coral Sea. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Cairns has a key role to play in this space due to our proximity to our island neighbours and we can see that in action with things like the Pasifika rugby team proposals.”

The navy base at HMAS Cairns has long been a focus of development in Cairns as both a home port for vessels but more importantly as a major player in the role of sustainment and maintenance of the Australian Navy as well as allied partners using the waters of the Far North.

The focus on the north will only add to this, according to Mr Trompf and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.

The review recommends an increase in Navy’s capability through a greater number of lethal vessels, and an independent analysis of Navy’s surface combatant fleet capability by the third quarter of 2023.

The HMAS Adelaide, a Royal Australian Navy Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ship, moored at the Cairns Wharf. Picture: Brendan Radke

“This points to the addition of greater fire power to vessels such as the Arafura Offshore Patrol Vessels that will be based out of Cairns as well as increased shipbuilding activities,” Mr Trompf said.

“This may lead to more vessels being active in our area both based out of Cairns or using our waters leading to greater opportunity in the realm of sustainment and maintenance for the Cairns Marine Precinct.”

Both Cairns MP Michael Healy and Mr Entsch said Cairns was well placed to capitalise on the outcomes of the review thanks to investment in the marine industry.

“I think the review presents Cairns with an opportunity,” Mr Healy said.

“Trinity Inlet is unique, we have completed dredging and upgraded our marine infrastructure. “We have a very sophisticated mature and growing marine industry and the fact we are geographically well placed, I am confident that puts us in a very good position.”

Mr Entsch said that given what’s happening in the Pacific, Cairns was the closest main centre and only naval base in the north, representing a “golden opportunity” for the region.

“With the money that is going to HMAS Cairns and the increased capability in relation to what's happening with the marine precinct common user facility, it is all going to put us in a really strong position,” he said.

It is not just increased activity from the Australian Navy in our waters which will drive growth in the North.

“There is a lot of other interest in the Pacific, in the past we have done some work with the US Pacific Fleet out of Guam where they have come into port for maintenance work and for the first time we have a vessel booked in for June from the British navy,” Mr Entsch said.

Despite the previous focus on naval activity, it may be RAAF base Scherger near Weipa that receives the greatest boost from the recommendations of the review.

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft (No. 36 Squadron) at RAAF Base Scherger, Far North Queensland, during Exercise Global Dexterity 21. Picture: Defence Media.

“It is pretty clear in the language of the review that the Air force is the highest priority,” Mr Trompf said.

The review stated that “it is now imperative that our network of northern bases is urgently and comprehensively remediated”.

“The priority for this network is the series of critical air bases,” the review said.

“This series of northern air bases must now be viewed as a holistic capability system and

managed as such by the chief of air force.”

Cape York, August 6, 2005. A RAAF F-111 strike bomber takes to the skies from RAAF Base Scherger. (AAP Image/Max Blenkin) NO ARCHIVING

The review recommends immediate and comprehensive work in runway capacity, fuel storage and supply, connectivity to allow for mission planning activities, security, and hardening and dispersal.

“The air base operates in a semidormant state but whether that changes is yet to be seen as the details are not available in the public version of the review,” Mr Trompf said.

“It is pretty clear that there will be significant investment in that space.”

Originally published as Cairns set to benefit from Defence shake-up