Defence capital of Australia
Townsville North Queensland is now Australia’s designated ‘Army Capital,’ home to the Australian Defence Forces’ only lethal combat brigade and associated infrastructure.
Following recent reviews of the Defence position for Australia, Townsville - which is already home to more than 4,500 ADF personnel with crucial military installations at Lavarack Barracks and Royal Australian Air Force Base - is set to grow further with an additional 500 personnel from 2025 as part of ongoing defence restructures.
Defence Strategic Review
The Defence Strategic Review sets the agenda for ambitious, but necessary, reform to Defence's posture and structure and to ensure that the region fully capitalises on the opportunities outlined in the Review and addresses the challenges associated with the Defence uplift in North Queensland.
Professor Peter Dean is the Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney
“North Queensland is an incredibly important region for Australia’s national resilience, defence infrastructure, a gateway for defence engagement into the south pacific, and a critical enabler of the defence industry and a part of the defence community; the region’s geographic location makes it critical in response to international and domestic operational requirements,” Professor Dean said.
“The 3rd brigade is undergoing significant capability and force posture enhancements as a result of the Defence Strategic Review. The area is home to critical capabilities, to unique and key training ranges and infrastructure and provides a platform for regional engagement and major exercises.”
“As the National Defence Strategy develops and we move to greater self-reliance, opportunities will grow for the local community and businesses in sustainment, manufacturing, and innovation; however, this will all depend on the development of a highly skilled workforce in north Queensland which rests on education, especially technical and university qualifications as well as supporting factors such as house and community facilities to attract and retain workers.”
The Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI)
The Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI) is an opportunity for Australia to build Defence capability and enhance its bilateral relationship with Singapore, while providing enduring economic benefits to North Queensland.
A ‘Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Military Training and Training Area Development in Australia’ was signed in October 2016 which will be in effect for 25 years.
It is estimated that $2.25B will be invested in the Townsville and Rockhampton regions from 2016 to 2026. This investment will deliver advanced military training areas that benefit the Australian Defence Force, provide significant local economic opportunities and strengthen Australia’s Defence relationship with Singapore.
This project is being run by the Australian Department of Defence, who are committed to maximising opportunities for North Queensland industry to participate in the supply chain across a range of work areas including, construction and technical support.
This capital infrastructure will provide significant opportunities to local suppliers and contractors. Townsville Enterprise has been instrumental in establishing the Singapore Economic Development Advisory Committee (SEDAC) to ensure Townsville receives the greatest benefit from the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Townsville Enterprise would also like to emphasise the importance of this partnership in developing the future economy of the region. As conscripted Singaporean soldiers are the future business leaders and traders of the nation state, their presence in Townsville means that the Townsville community and business owners must take a strategic approach and position themselves as offering attractive investment opportunities.