Defence tries again Landholders contacted for alternative military training site

THE Department of Defence is contacting landholders south of Greenvale after identifying an alternative site for the region’s second military training area.

Defence says it will seek to buy land from willing sellers at a site near either Greenvale, Ravenswood or Pentland.

Department of Defence infrastructure first assistant secretary Chris Birrer said initial assessments showed a training area near Greenvale would best meet the Australian Defence Force’s and Singapore Armed Forces’ requirements long- term.

“The Government has gone through a process over the past 10 months of looking at how best to deliver on the training outcomes,” he said.

Defence officials originally hoped to acquire land bordering the existing Townsville Field Training Area near Herveys Range for the AustraliaSingapore Military Training Initiative ( ASMTI).

But that has been ruled out after negotiations with 23 identified landholders failed.

The Federal Government initially planned to compulsorily acquire the properties which were identified in a map published in the media. But this resulted in a public backlash and the commitment is now to talk with only willing sellers.

Mr Birrer said there were no plans to release site maps for the three new alternative sites, to protect the privacy of landholders.

“We have sought to be open and transparent with the com- munity,” he said. “We have been speaking with landowners in the relevant areas and will continue to do so.

“The exact boundaries of any future training area are very much subject to us finding willing sellers in the right area and, of course, we need a continuous area.”

Mr Birrer said the Ravenswood and Pentland options would only be considered should Greenvale prove not to be feasible.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan, who was briefed on the new plans yesterday, said the alternative Greenvale site would still position the city well as the key commercial and service support hub for the ASMTI.

Defence will begin hosting community walk- in sessions and industry engagement briefings in the affected local areas and in Townsville from next month.

It will also start detailed construction design work for facilities and infrastructure.

Construction is expected start in 2019.