Referral of Work

On 11 May 2005 the proposal for the Redevelopment of Kokoda Barracks, Canungra, Queensland, was referred to the Public Works Committee for consideration and report to the Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 (the Act).¹ The proponent agency for this work is the Department of Defence (Defence).

The Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration, advised the House that the estimated cost of the proposed works was $86.7 million. Subject to parliamentary approval, works are planned to commence late this year, and be completed by December 2007.

Background

Kokoda Barracks

A Land Headquarters Training Centre (Jungle Warfare) was first established at Canungra in 1942 to provide training for Australian troops before their departure for combat in World War II. Canungra was chosen as it best replicated the environment of the Pacific Region and was accessible by an existing railway facilitating the easy movement of troops between Brisbane and Canungra. The Jungle Training Centre closed shortly after the end of the war, to reopen in 1954 in response to perceived threats emerging in South-East Asia .

The former School of Tactics and War Administration relocated to Canungra in 1960 and became the Command, Staff, and Operations Wing in 1997. A Warrant Officer Wing, established in 1976, became the Warrant Officer and Non-Commissioned Officer Wing in 1978. In 1998 the two wings amalgamated to become to become the Army Promotion Training Centre. The Army Promotion Training Centre became Headquarters Regional Training Centres in December 2000.

The former School of Military Intelligence relocated to a purpose-built facility at Canungra in 1984. In 1994 the intelligence training resources of the Defence Intelligence Organisation, Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal Australian Navy amalgamated as the Defence Intelligence Training Wing at Canungra. In 1997 the School of Military Intelligence and the Defence Intelligence Training Wing amalgamated as the current Defence Intelligence Training Centre and relocated to its new facility in 2003.

Site of Proposed Works

Kokoda Barracks is located two kilometres east of the township of Canungra, approximately ninety kilometres south of Brisbane and thirty-five kilometres west of the Gold Coast.² The military area at Canungra comprises about 6,000 hectares and consists of the Cantonment, where Kokoda Barracks is situated on about 100 hectares, and the Close Training Area where field-training activities are carried out.³

All of the proposed works are within Kokoda Barracks. The property is Commonwealth owned and Defence controlled, and is designated for “Defence Special Purposes”. The redevelopment does not require the acquisition of additional land.⁴

Inquiry Process

The Committee is required by the Act to consider public works over $6 million⁵ and report to Parliament on:

• the purpose of the work and its suitability for that purpose;
• the need for, or the advisability of, carrying out the work;
• whether the money to be expended on the work is being spent in the most cost effective manner;
• the amount of revenue the work will generate for the Commonwealth, if that is its purpose; and
• the present and prospective public value of the work.⁶

The Committee called for submissions by advertising the inquiry in The Courier Mail on Saturday, 29 May 2005. The Committee also sought submissions from relevant government agencies, local government, private organisations and individuals, who may be materially affected by or have an interest in the proposed work. The Committee subsequently placed submissions and other information relating to the inquiry on its web site in order to encourage further public participation.

Inspection and Public Hearing

On 20 July 2005 the Committee visited the Kokoda Barracks, Canungra, Qld, and inspected the site and environs of the proposed works. A confidential briefing from Defence and a public hearing were held within the Kokoda Barracks later that day.⁷