Defence ties invaluable to economy

TOWNSVILLE is a proud garrison city.

Our ties with Defence go back to one of the world’s most significant conflicts.

In World War II, the city hosted more than 50,000 American and Australian troops and aircrew, and it became a major staging point for battles off our coast.

Today the city is home to 6853 serving Australian Defence Force personnel – 5943 army, 699 air force, five navy and 206 civilians.

But those figures are just a drop in the ocean compared with the number of wives, husbands, partners and children of those who serve and those who have left the ADF but still call Townsville home.

Their value to the community is often thought as priceless.

But analysis by the has revealed Defence’s contribution to the community does have a price tag, and it’s a big one.

Almost $ 12 million in tender contracts alone have been awarded by the Department of Defence to local business since the start of 2016.

Supporting almost 7000 personnel is a boon for our small businesses and plays a huge contribution to our local economy.

James Cook University is in the process of completing a new report on the Australian Defence Organisation and its socio- economic impact in the Townsville region, due for release early next year. This report is expected to build on similar studies in 2009 and 2013, which looked at the overall worth of Defence to the city’s Gross Regional Product from jobs, education, health, housing and other key facets of the economy.

With big investments still looming, Townsville is really cementing itself as a garrison stronghold.

Whatever opportunities do present themselves, we need to be ready to grab them with both hands, because given the current security climate, having the largest and most wellserviced military base in the country and a community that backs it will be invaluable.