Chapter 4 Puckapunyal Redevelopment, Victoria
4.1
The Puckapunyal Redevelopment, Victoria project proposes to provide
flexible, modern purpose-built facilities to meet the Army’s changing training
requirements and improved access to the Puckapunyal Military Area. The
estimated cost of the project is $41.650 million (excluding GST).
4.2
The proposal was referred to the Committee on 28 August 2008.
Conduct of the inquiry
4.3
The inquiry was advertised in local and national newspapers and
submissions sought from those with a direct interest in the project. The Committee received one submission and one confidential supplementary submission regarding the
project costs. A list of submissions can be found at Appendix A.
4.4
The Committee undertook a site inspection, in-camera hearing and public
hearing on 6 November 2008 in Puckapunyal and Seymour. A list of witnesses can
be found at Appendix B.
4.5
The transcript of the public hearing as well as the submissions to the
inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.[1] Plans for the proposed
works are detailed in Submission 1, Department of Defence (Defence).
Need for works
4.6
The redevelopment project will support Defence capability by addressing
the following needs at the Puckapunyal Base associated with Army Units and
their training capability:
n Road Transport
Wing, ALTC – The Road Transport Wing needs office and instructional
facilities to provide the command, working, training and administrative
functions for the unit. Currently, these functions are undertaken in a mixture
of old adapted storage facilities and temporary demountable buildings that have
evolved over time. They are in poor condition and not suitable for long term
use for the purpose of instruction and office accommodation.
n Safe Driver
Training Area (SDTA) – The existing SDTA provides initial driver training
for soldiers to operate heavy vehicles in a controlled and safe environment.
Currently this facility is limited in overall throughput capacity and cannot
meet the increasing demand for drivers. Driver training for large vehicle hill
starts, and high speed (80km per hour) driving and braking is unable to be
undertaken within the facility.
n School of Armour –
Combat Officer Advanced Course (COAC) – The School of Armour
conducts training to prepare individuals for employment within Army Units that
operate Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Combat Communications and as Combat Team
leaders (Major rank, Sub-Unit Commanders) within the Combat Arms. Future Combat
Team Leaders are prepared for their role through completion of COAC. Currently,
there is no training facility on the base seating more than 50 personnel. COAC
in particular requires a tiered theatre training facility to accommodate 120
people, along with supporting breakout rooms to conduct smaller group training
and exercises. A physical ‘model’ area is required within the theatre to allow
tactical exercises to be communicated to trainees.
n Headquarters (HQ)
CATC – HQ CATC commands the Combat Arms Training Schools (School of Armour, Artillery, Infantry and Military Engineering). The total HQA CATC staff is 97 personnel. Currently 18 personnel are accommodated in a temporary building.
Permanent facilities are required to accommodate HQ CATC.
n Battle
Simulation Centre Puckapunyal (BSC-P) – This facility provides a
warfighting simulation capability to the Army particularly for the conduct of
LWDC, experimental and analytical activities. Building 855 in which this is
located has been progressively refurbished from its original use as the Army Catering School. The need within this building is for minor works to upgrade lighting,
heating, cooling and IT services in several existing rooms that are currently
used as training spaces.[2]
4.7
Further needs identified are associated with the broader base community
and its operation. Addressing these will enhance the overall base amenity,
functionality and operating efficiency. These include:
n Chapels –
Currently the base has three small Chapels. Each of these is in poor condition
and at the end of their lifespan. The base requires a larger new Multi-Denominational
Chapel to meet the needs of all faiths within the Puckapunyal community.
n Entrance Precinct –
The base Entrance Precinct on Blamey Avenue is a basic single lane boom gate
access, consisting of limited signage, temporary buildings and shelters. The
need is to provide an improved Entrance Precinct that facilitates effective 24
hours a day security operations, controlling access for high volumes of Defence
personnel, contractors, a significant base civilian population, visitors and
delivery vehicles.
n Range Control –
The Range Control is responsible for managing the use of the live fire
manoeuvre range on a daily basis with the main function of coordinating
activities on the range to ensure safety for all users. A need exists to brief
personnel who enter the range on a daily basis. Briefings of up to 40 people
must be accommodated utilising maps and various visual aids. There is no
facility at Range Control that can accommodate this requirement at present. The
existing range control building also requires minor internal refurbishment.[3]
4.8
At its site inspection the Committee observed that parts of Puckapunyal
Base are in need of repair and personnel are working in sub-standard conditions
in some areas. The Committee also recognises the need for training facilities
to be improved to meet the needs of improved training techniques and equipment.
The Committee finds that there is need for the proposed works.
Scope of works
4.9
The proposed scope of works is detailed in Submission 1, Department of
Defence.[4] The project includes 8 separate
elements as summarised below.
4.10
Road Transport Wing:
n provision of a new
purpose built headquarters facility for Road Transport Wing of 1,954m2;
n refurbishment of an
existing workshop building of 1,291m2; and
n demolition and
removal of redundant facilities.
4.11
Safe Driver Training Area:
n provision of an
additional 1.6 km straight section of roadway to allow heavy vehicles to be
accelerated up to 80km/hr and then safely braked;
n a new outdoor
training shelter facility of 49m2; and
n provision of 600m
extension to the hill start area located away from the main circuit to enable
trainees to safely carry out hill start training.
4.12
School of Armour – the Base Instructional Facility
of 1 600m2 will include:
n a 120 person lecture
theatre;
n eight, ten person
syndicate rooms;
n associated breakout
space, storage and utility areas; and
n carparking and bus
turnaround area.
4.13
Battle Simulation Centre – Puckapunyal (BSC-P) – upgrade Building
855 for the provision of facilities for the BSC-P, including:
n refurbishment works
on the ground floor to provide three new multi-purpose training rooms of 440m2;
and
n installation of
mechanical services and minor upgrade and repair work to Battle Laboratory
facilities.
4.14
Multi-denominational Chapel – this element of 785m2
will include:
n a shared 100 person
congregational area;
n dedicated vestry/sacristy
for multi-denominational services; and
n associated supporting
spaces, storage and utility areas.
4.15
Entrance Precinct:
n provision of a new
secure Blamey Avenue entrance;
n provision of a guard
booth and associated ablutions;
n slip lanes for
document checking and vehicle inspection;
n boom gates and
associated landscaping; and
n carparking and
vehicle turn around area.
4.16
Combined Arms Training Centre – this element of 319m2
will include:
n provision of new
office accommodation for the CATC Headquarters to accommodate staff currently
occupying temporary office accommodation; and
n provision of
associated utility spaces and ablutions to cater for the new facility.
4.17
Range control:
n provision of a new
dedicated 40 person briefing room and associated storage requirements of 213m2;
and
n refurbishment of the
existing office accommodation to accommodate the Range Control staff
appropriately.[5]
4.18
The Committee notes that any budget savings made will be directed
towards the following deferred works:
n to house an
additional eight people at the headquarters of the Combined Arms Training
Centre; and
n to provide defence
secret network computer terminals in the new combined arms advanced course
instructional facility.[6]
4.19
The Committee considers these deferred works are an important part of
the project scope and should be undertaken.
4.20
The Committee has assessed the scope of the works and finds them
suitable to provide the facilities necessary to meet the needs of the
Puckapunyal redevelopment project.
Cost of works
4.21
The total out-turn cost of this work is estimated to be
$41.650 million (excluding GST) which includes the construction costs,
professional fees, furniture, fittings and equipment, IT infrastructure and
equipment, demolition and relocation works, contingencies and an escalation
allowance.[7]
4.22
The Committee received detailed cost plans for the project and held an
in-camera hearing with the Department of Defence on the full project costs.
4.23
The Committee was satisfied that the costings for the project as
provided to it are adequate and suitable contingency planning is in place to
ensure that the overall project is not compromised by budget overruns in any
one area.
Project issues
Security
4.24
At present there is minimal perimeter base security. In particular, the
front gate is a temporary arrangement that has been in place since 2001. It is
badly planned requiring those refused entry to enter the base to turn their
vehicle around.
4.25
Assurance was given that the proposed security measures for the entrance
to the base were appropriate and sufficient. Base Commander Brig Rerden stated
that surveys indicate:
...that access control through the main entrance to the base [will
be] appropriate for the number of personnel … on the base and the number of
valuable vehicles and pieces of equipment that are stored on the base.[8]
4.26
There was also some concern that perimeter security could allow possible
casual entry by members of the public. Brig Rerden confirmed that the base is
surrounded by a normal fence and a 2.4 meter high electric fence with
appropriate signage approximately every 50 metres.[9]
Responding to concerns about live firing ranges, he also confirmed that ranges
are located in the centre of the base, placing them a number of kilometres from
the boundary.[10]
Chapel
4.27
A single multi-denominational chapel is to replace the three existing
chapels on the base. During the site inspection the Committee received
assurances from the base chaplain that the congregations involved fully
supported the move. He also confirmed that the chapel catered for all faiths,
recognising the large number of non-Christian faiths present at the base,
particularly when hosting international forces.
4.28
The Committee queried the scale of the new building with regard to congregation
size. The existing chapels hold approximately 100 people each and the new
building has a ‘100-person congregational nave’ capacity and denominations will
stagger their services throughout the day.[11]
Asbestos
4.29
Asbestos is present in a number of the existing buildings which are to
be demolished during the redevelopment. Brig Grice, Director General of
Infrastructure Asset Development for Defence, assured the Committee that ‘licensed
contractors will be used in accordance with Victorian legislation to safely
remove those.’[12]
Committee comment
4.30
The Committee noted that the base is self-contained, that the age of the
buildings and facilities is contributing to unacceptable working conditions for
staff and trainees and that the need for the redevelopment project is overdue.
4.31
Overall, the Committee is satisfied that this project has merit in terms
of need, scope and cost.
4.32
Having examined the purpose, need, use, revenue and public value of the
work, the Committee considers that it is expedient that the proposed works
proceed.
Recommendation 4 |
|
|
The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives
resolve, pursuant to Section 18 (7) of the Public Works Committee Act
1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work: Puckapunyal
Redevelopment, Victoria.
|
