$40 million facility proposed for Lavarack Barracks

A $40 million defence project is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to North Queensland with construction hopefully beginning this year.

An artist impression of the planned facility at Lavarack Barracks.

A $40 million defence project is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to North Queensland with construction hopefully beginning this year.

A new three-storey “simulator facility” which will be used by the 3rd Brigade’s troops at Lavarack Barracks is being proposed under the Defence Department’s national Armoured Fighting Vehicle Facilities Program Stage 1 Works.

The facility will help train Townsville personnel to operate the new fleet of armoured vehicles being procured by defence, and will include a “simulation centre, simulators and classrooms”.

Construction for the $40 million build is expected to begin in late 2020 and conclude in mid-2022.

Pending parliamentary approval, the army is wanting to replace the current set of armoured vehicle with the next generation of infantry fighting vehicles.

The ageing in-service M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers will be 60 years-old by the time the planned replacement happens.

In a submission from the defence department, the project will focus on “maximising” the use of Townsville and North Queensland businesses.

Herbert MP Phil Thompson said the contracts up for grabs would create ongoing jobs to bolster the economy.

“I’ll be working very closely with (defence) Minister Reynolds and (defence industry) Minister Price around our procurement and tender strategy, it is extremely important local businesses get first bites of the cherry when it comes to wining contracts,” he said.

“We’re going to see that contracts are awarded locally if they’ll be able to do it the they will be looked at first and favourability.

“Our contactors are more than capable to get first dibs and it will be important to keep that money local.”

A Department of Defence spokesperson said the project will provide a range of infrastructure works around the country.

“Works are proposed at three Defence establishments across Australia: Puckapunyal Military Area (Victoria), Lavarack Barracks (Queensland) and Edinburgh Defence Precinct (South Australia) with a total project value of $235 million,” the spokesperson said.

For more information, a public information session is being held on February 6, at the Reid Park Pit Complex, Boundary St, Townsville. Local businesses are invited to attend between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

Originally published as $40 million facility proposed for Lavarack Barracks