City suits military industries

MANUFACTURER Rheinmetall is exactly the sort of company Townsville should be cultivating to future- proof our city.

Rheinmetall designs and builds equipment for armies – mostly vehicles.

Last financial year, the German juggernaut sold more than $ 4.4 billion worth of military hardware to defence organisations around the globe.

Locally, it’s subsidiary Rheinmetall Defence Australia is the largest supplier of military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force, delivering more than 2500 logistics trucks to our army.

Now it is gunning for the $ 5 billion Land 400 contract with its Boxer CRV vehicle, which will be on display on The Strand today from 9am to noon.

So why should any of us care about Rheinmetall? Because Townsville is perfectly positioned to establish itself as a defence industry powerhouse.

Firstly, we host Australia’s largest garrison of troops so we already need a huge mass of military hardware.

Secondly, we are the biggest city in northern Australia and boast by far the biggest industrial base north of Brisbane.

Thirdly, Townsville’s strategic significance to Australia’s defence planning is only going to increase as geopolitical tensions intensify in the region.

Fourthly, we need to build growth industries here to deliver jobs to a population that is projected to grow sharply as the focus tilts to the nation’s north.

Finally, a defence equipment industry will create new pathways for our troops to transition into civilian life without forcing them to move away from Townsville.

Mayor Jenny Hill, a former army reservist, understands the opportunity.

But she will need to work hard with local industry leaders and state and federal MPs to make it clear Townsville is open for defence industry business. Forging strong relations with firms such as Rheinmetall – whether or not it wins the Land 400 contract – would be a great first step.

Cr Hill met Rheinmetall executives in Singapore last month, which is a start.

But there is much more work to be done to convince Canberra – and the defence industry – that Townsville would make a great home for these firms.