Tiwi Partners awarded $100m Delamere Defence contract

A local company has been awarded a contract worth more than $100 million for a new Defence project in the Territory.

LOCAL company Tiwi Partners Pty Ltd has been awarded a $107.8m contract for a new Defence Department project in the Territory.

Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said the project entailed upgrading facilities at the Delamere Air Weapons Range.

Tiwi Partners Pty Ltd is a joint venture between Tiwi Islands Equity Holders and Sitzler.

Ms Price said the Delamere contract would support 150 jobs during the project’s estimated nine-month construction phase.

The project will improve supporting infrastructure and ensure Delamere continues to be able to provide the required capability to the air force.

“This is great news for the Northern Territory’s defence industry and for the broader NT economy,” Ms Price said.

“Delamere Air Weapons Range is an enduring site for Defence, providing significant training capability for our air force.

“This project will support the Growler Airborne Electronic Attack capability, including demolishing the old facility and constructing three new Mobile Emitter Site Mounds.

“The Morrison government has brought forward funding for this project to provide much needed additional stimulus to the Northern Territory construction sector during this Covid-affected time.”

The Growler is a specialised electronic warfare system designed to support ground, sea and air operations by detecting, analysing, disrupting or destroying enemy radar and communications systems.

Work is expected to begin within days and be completed by June 2022. Defence has committed to spending up to $2bn in the Northern Territory over the next decade, as the commonwealth and the United States ramp up the pivot to the Indo-Pacific.

Almost half-a-billion dollars will be spent upgrading four of the Territory’s defence ranges, led by Sitzler with support from local contractors.

The upgrades aim to provide a boost to facilities and infrastructure at Robertson Barracks, Kangaroo Flats, Mount Bundey and Bradshaw training areas.

Up to $190m will be spent at Bradshaw, the Territory’s largest defence range, including upgrading the existing training camp to accommodate another 250 personnel and a new 250-person camp near the Bradshaw homestead.

Other works include construction of a new vehicle wash point, urban operations training facility and upgrades to the Nackeroo airfield to improve operational capacity for military aircraft. Robertson Barracks is also in for a facelift, with the commonwealth planning on spending $130m including construction of new weapon training ranges, urban operations training facilities, range management facilities, a vehicle wash point, driver training area and remediation of existing redundant ranges.

More than $100m will be spent at Kangaroo Flats including new weapon training ranges, range management facilities and upgrades to the existing military camp. As well, $70m will be spent upgrading Mt Bundey including upgrades to the existing range, improved access into the training area and a new helicopter arming and refuelling point.