Why Cairns and Townsville must work together to amplify defence potential of the north

An Army veteran of 26 years has called for greater teamwork from the country’s northern cities and local governments to carve out a “pivotal role” in the future of Australian defence.

Former Australian Army technician avionics and current Boeing aircrewman aechnician instructor, Greg Maiden (left) from the School of Army Aviation is congratulated by the Commanding Officer of the 5th Aviation Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher McDougall, after completing 5000 hours of flying in the CH-47 Chinook at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland. Photo: TPR Lisa Sherman

A long-serving defence veteran has called for greater teamwork from the country’s northern cities and local governments to carve out a “pivotal role” in the future of the Australian defence industry.

Commanding Officer 5th Aviation Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Christopher McDougall served in the Australian Army for 26 years and is a repeat contributor to The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s ‘The Strategist’.

Mr McDougall said the region was unusually well-suited to building a logistic and industrial support base for Australian Defence Force operations but Cairns and Townsville must work more closely to fully exploit the region’s potential.

“The region can support the three armed services far beyond what it has traditionally done for them, providing bases and training areas,” he said.

“There is already a strong military presence in northern Queensland.

“The army’s largest barracks, the navy’s patrol boat base, and some of the air force’s main training areas and two of its bases for mounting offshore operations.”

Mr McDougall called on the region to consider its assets collectively.

“Currently, each city or region identifies and advocates for its own bespoke investment opportunities — as, for example, in Townsville’s Unlock the North submission to the state and federal governments,” he said.

“In future, similar submissions could be combined for those projects or opportunities that benefit the entire region, with delegations and representations made as collective entities.

Mr McDougall said there is huge potential supporting and maintaining defence equipment that is more often being kept in the North.

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

“This includes the army’s huge investment in armoured vehicles and helicopters, the navy’s expanded patrol boat fleet and a renewed requirement to upgrade northern bases,” he said.

“Army landing ships built under project Land 8710 are likely to be based in northern Queensland.”

“By demonstrating that it has the capacity to take on this role, the region can encourage industry to locate key support capabilities close to the equipment.”

Mr McDougall said the region’s key strength was its geographic resilience.

“It faces some of Australia’s regions of interest — the South Pacific, Hawaii and the US west coast — and is the obvious place from which to mount ADF operations into the Pacific.

“Its cities are well positioned to provide the base for deployed forces, offering well-serviced logistics hubs with robust supply chains and local manufacturing capable of sustaining ADF operations.

“The cities are dispersed around the region; should the support capacity of one become disrupted, others can keep operations running, using fast transport networks across rail, road, sea and air.”

The regions hubs have the population and skill sets in manufacturing, maintenance and heavy machinery to support defence industries.

“The area between Rockhampton and Cairns has more than 500,000 people, comparable to Newcastle, which has a significant and growing defence industry hub,” Mr McDougall.

“Similar depth of defence activity could be supported in northern Queensland.”

“For example, the army’s decision to concentrate its helicopters in Townsville presents an opportunity best exploited by the entire region.

“The maintenance workforce, from the engineers to the refuellers and mechanics, need a training pipeline for service personnel and contracted civilians.

“Townsville alone cannot provide this training, but the region can use existing aviation training organisations in Cairns.”

“Plans announced so far will attract significant investment in northern Queensland, but unless there is collective action these opportunities will not take full advantage of the region’s potential.”

Originally published as Why Cairns and Townsville must work together to amplify defence potential of the north