Appendix A
Article in the Townsville Bulletin dated 5 February 2010
Bungle delays troop housing
TONY RAGGATT
February 5th,
2010
THE Defence Department is to spend $19 million on transportable
dongas to house troops because of a bungle in providing new accommodation at
bases such as Lavarack Barracks, federal MP Peter Lindsay said yesterday.
Meanwhile,
the department last night confirmed delays of up to 18 months would occur in
providing its Single Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct (LEAP)
project but denied troops would be housed in dongas.
Mr
Lindsay raised the claims after Defence was called to a Public Works committee
in Canberra yesterday to explain why the Single LEAP project had not proceeded
despite funding approvals having been passed more than two years ago.
Mr
Lindsay said it was an utter disgrace.
''Some
soldiers will be living in dongas for three years,'' he said.
''Defence
calls it an interim solution, (but) it's a pretty ordinary solution.''
Under
the Single LEAP phase two project, there was a requirement for 540 extra living
accommodation units at Lavarack Barracks. Some of the units were required for up
to 700 soldiers from Sydney's 3RAR due to relocate to Townsville and occupy
their lines at Lavarack Barracks from the beginning of 2012.
The
units were part of 3535 rooms at 17 Defence sites around Australia to be
provided under public/private partnership arrangements and were to be ready to
start in 2010 and fully delivered in 2012.
Mr
Lindsay said he had been told the relocation of 3RAR was going ahead but that
the Single LEAP project would not be delivered until April 2013.
He
said the Public Works committee reported to Parliament, approving the works, in
June 2007.
''Here
we are in 2010 and no tender has yet been let,'' he said.
Mr
Lindsay said tenders were called and four tenderers were shortlisted but that
the global financial crisis intervened, delaying the plans.
He
said Defence had now decided to recall tenders.
''It
could have internally funded the project (but) Defence has chosen not to go
down that route and chosen to accept long delays,'' he said.
''You
won't see Single LEAP phase two buildings at Lavarack until April 2013.''
He said Defence would spend $19
million on dongas - $9 million at Townsville and $10 million at the Edinburgh
defence precinct in South Australia for the 7th Battalion.
''They
are going to expect soldiers to live in dongas until April 2013,'' he said. ''I
really don't think that's acceptable. It's an utter disgrace, but more than
that, our construction industry misses out on the current work because of these
delays.''
A
Defence spokesman said procurement action was under way for Single LEAP phase
two at Lavarack Barracks.
''Defence
is getting cracking on the project,'' the spokesman said.
''Possibly
there will be a delay that could last up to 18 months but hopefully it will be
less.
''During
this time appropriate quality arrangements will be in place for service
personnel.
''It
will not be dongas.''
The spokesman said there would not be a delay in the
transfer of 3RAR to Townsville.