Chapter 3 Construction of Defence housing at Yamanto Hills, Queensland
3.1
The proposal to construct housing for Defence at Yamanto Hills, Ipswich,
Queensland, was referred to the Committee on 19 March 2009 by the Parliamentary
Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly MP. The estimated cost of
the works is $19.63 million (including GST).
3.2
In its submission to this Committee, DHA stated that the housing
development was needed to meet the growth of RAAF Base Amberley.
3.3
On 9 April 2009 the Committee received a letter from
Mr Michael Del Gigante, Managing Director, Defence Housing Australia,
requesting that the public hearing scheduled by the Committee for the inquiry for
29 April 2009, be postponed. The stated reason for this request was because:
Since the referral, some planning issues have arisen that
will need some time for DHA to examine and evaluate before the project can
proceed.[1]
3.4
Subsequently, the Committee received a letter from the Minister for
Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowden MP, withdrawing the
referral from the Committee’s consideration and stating:
The Yamanto project was originally referred to the Parliament
by our colleague, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, on 19 March 2009. Subsequently,
and in the normal course of its business, DHA sought the advice of a noise
consultant regarding the potential impact on the project of the introduction of
the Super Hornets to RAAF Amberley. The consultant was advised by Defence that
it was likely that there would be an adverse impact, the effect of which would
be to render Yamanto unsuitable for housing.
In view of this risk, the DHA Board has decided to suspend
further work on Yamanto pending the outcome of the public environment report
process required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999, that will confirm or otherwise the noise impacts of
the Super Hornets at RAAF Amberley.
Accordingly, DHA advises that it no longer requires the
referral to the PWC. If the DHA Board decides to continue with the development
at a later time, the project will be re-referred to the Committee.[2]
3.5
Therefore, the Committee will not proceed with its inquiry into this
referral and, given the need for Defence housing in this region, hopes that the
project will be re-referred in the very near future.
Committee comment
3.6
The Committee undertook an inquiry into facilities at RAAF Base Amberley
for the introduction of the Super Hornet aircraft in August 2009. At this time
the Committee was told:
The initial indications are that the Super Hornet engine
compared to an F111 engine is at least as loud on take-off, but it is
significantly quieter on landing. What is more, the operational profile of the
aircraft—its proximity to the ground, how often it flies and how long it spends
flying low to the ground—is significantly different from an F111; therefore,
the overall study on that aircraft is still in its initial stages. Air Force is
very confident that profiles of not just Super Hornet aircraft but all aircraft
at RAAF Base Amberley and
so forth are able to be modified to make sure that we accommodate the needs of
the local community.[3]
3.7
The Committee was further told:
Therefore, we have concluded that it would be prudent to
refer the noise impacts that are likely to arise from the operation of the
aircraft to the Department of Environment and Heritage to consider those
impacts through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
That referral has been lodged in the last day or so, as I understand it, and a
comprehensive environmental impact assessment process will look at that.[4]
3.8
The Committee is concerned that DHA was not aware that this
environmental assessment was being undertaken despite the fact that the housing
project is intended to meet the growing needs of RAAF Base Amberley. The
Committee is concerned that this indicates a failure by DHA to undertake basic
consultation with its primary client, the Department of Defence.
3.9
Furthermore, evidence to the Committee by DHA indicates that it was
aware of the potential of unacceptably high noise level over the land. In its
submission to this Committee regarding the referral, DHA stated:
Noise impacts. The site is located close to RAAF Base
Amberley which currently operates the F111 and C17 jet aircraft. The current
approved Australian Noise Exposure
Forecast (ANEF) for RAAF Base Amberley, dated 2006, shows that the land
development is situated within the 20 – 25 ANEF contours. Such land is
categorised as conditionally acceptable for residential use. While the ICC
[Ipswich City Council] has not placed any conditions on the Development
Approval, DHA has accepted the consultant's recommendation to undertake an
acoustic assessment to ensure that the proposed houses comply with AS2021 for
aircraft noise levels.[5]
3.10
The Committee is also concerned that, although DHA purchased the Yamanto
Hills site in 2007, it did not engage a noise consultant to address the
potential impact of the Super Hornet until after the project had been referred for
parliamentary scrutiny.[6] Given that the project
was subject to tight timeframes[7], the Committee was
surprised that these planning issues had not been finalised prior to referral.
3.11
This Committee has seen cases where poor consultation and planning has
led to significant costs to the Commonwealth and is pleased that in this
instance this has been avoided.
3.12
When this project is re-referred, the Committee will be seeking to
satisfy itself that DHA has consulted fully with the Department of Defence and
appropriate planning and noise consultants to ensure that all planning issues
have been resolved prior to referral.
Recommendation 2 |
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The Committee recommends that the Defence Housing Authority
establish an internal protocol to ensure that, in future, similar issues
impacting upon projects are addressed fully prior to referral to the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works.
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