BRIEFINGS SHOW PLAN OF ATTACK

THE Singaporean Ministry of Defence has given a glimpse of its vision for a proposed new training area west of Townsville.

Early conceptual drawings of the facility were yesterday shown to more than 100 business and industry leaders at a Australia- Singapore Military Training Initiative, ASMTI, briefing in Townsville.

The Singapore Government’s vision includes a medical facility, two urban operations live fire complexes, a mock village- style live fire training area, a new airfield, combined arms range, targetry range and two living camps – one catering for 2000 people and another for 1400 people.

Plans for road construction and improvements, erosion and water quality management were also discussed amid concerns about increased usage and traffic in the area.

Australian Defence officials revealed the ASMTI was only 5 per cent through its design phase.

The Department of Defence’s first assistant secretary for infrastructure Chris Birrer said yesterday’s briefing was to ensure local industries were prepared to take advantage of the $ 2.25 billion initiative.

“The Australian and Singaporean governments are com- mitted to ensuring this initiative provides opportunities for local businesses,” Mr Birrer said.

“We’re here to engage with local industry as part of the initial development of the initiative to ensure people are primed and ready to seek the opportunities ( it) will provide.”

Mr Birrer said there should be “wide- ranging and longlasting” economic benefits for the Townsville and Charters Towers region over the life of the 25- year investment if businesses engaged early.

“Initial interest has been in construction, which is natural when you think of early work that will be provided,” he said.

“We certainly encourage people to think about the opportunities … whether it be in administrative services, maintenance services, land management and other industries like tourism and accommodation.”

When questioned about whether or not land acquisition remained a barrier to the ASMTI proceeding in the North, Mr Birrer said it “was not a hurdle”. “We’ve started some initial engagement with local landowners in the region and we’re engaging only with willing sellers,” he said.

“We’ve just started some initial conversations … to let them know our processes around land procurement and what they might see going forward and it’s really up to them to make decisions.”

Mr Birrer said he believed a prospective site would be firmed up later next year.