Purpose

Defence submitted that the purpose of the proposed works is to:

• provide facilities at HMAS Cairns for the berthing and effective operation of the new ACPBs, and
• to refurbish and reinvest in ageing base infrastructure.¹

Need

The impetus for the proposed work arose from:

• the decision to replace the Navy’s FCPBs with new ACPBs, which is larger and some 15 metres longer than the FCPB, thus demanding extended berthing facilities and upgrade of associated services;²
• an incremental increase in the number of vessels home-ported at HMAS Cairns, since September 1996, which has required some Navy vessels to be berthed at a nearby commercial wharf, although this arrangement does not allow for the provision of the requisite shore services, such as power and security;³ and
• an associated increase in pressure on base support facilities and essential infrastructure services, which require upgrading to meet current and future requirements.⁴

Options Considered

As HMAS Cairns is the only naval base in Queensland, no alternative sites were investigated. Options considered for the base redevelopment and accommodation of ACPBs were:

• expansion of the Navy’s berthing facilities at HMAS Cairns; and
• construction of new shore facilities.

At the public hearing, Defence reported that it had compared the cost-effectiveness of building new shore facilities to that of adaptive reuse of existing facilities and had found that the former option would incur a 50 per cent cost premium.⁵ For this reason, Defence determined the proposed acquisition of increased berthing access at the adjacent commercial wharf; and the refurbishment of existing shore facilities at HMAS Cairns to be the preferred project option.⁶

Scope

Defence describes key project elements as:

• marine works, comprising widening of the existing Navy wharf and access jetty, and construction of an access jetty connecting HMAS Cairns to the nearby commercial wharf;
• refurbishment and re-use of existing buildings, including the Command, In Service Support Facility, Fleet Logistics Support Element, and Fleet Maintenance Activity buildings; and incorporation and limited upgrade of the adjacent Training Ship Endeavour naval cadet facilities;
• construction of new buildings, comprising a new two-storey Central Building (to accommodate the Health Services Centre, Corporate Services Customer Service Centre, Command, Career Management Cell, Comprehensive Maintenance Service Contractor, Navy Communication and elements of the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group), and a new Fitness Centre;
• civil works, including alteration of the base entrance, a new 225-place car park, hardstand and landscaping;
• temporary facilities and minor works, including facilities to accommodate decanting and staging, and a new quality control laboratory for the existing pump house; and
• site services works to upgrade electrical, water, stormwater, sewerage, communications and security services.⁷

Land Acquisition

In order to accommodate the proposed redevelopment, Defence plans to acquire, through normal commercial means, “an interest in several properties adjacent to HMAS Cairns…”. Defence reported that negotiations undertaken prior to the date of submission (March 2006) had been positive.⁸ The estimated cost of the land acquisitions was included in the confidential project cost estimate supplied to the Committee.

Defence’s Statement of Evidence indicated that the additional property to be acquired includes Lot 485 (currently in the hands of the Cairns Port Authority) and the Training Ship Endeavour, which will be incorporated into HMAS Cairns for ongoing use by naval cadets.

Use of Commercial Wharf

Defence’s proposal includes the construction of a new access jetty to service two new berths at the neighbouring commercial wharf.⁹ Defence states, however, that increased naval access to, and use of, the commercial wharf will not impede commercial activity at the site.¹⁰

Project Delivery

Defence proposes that the project will be delivered using a managing contractor arrangement, which will provide strong on-site management and assist in the synchronisation of construction activities and ongoing base operations.¹¹

Cost

The estimated outturn cost of the proposed work is $76.3 million.¹²

Appendix C, Submission No.1, paragraph 2 Back

Appendix C, Submission No.1, paragraph 3 Back

ibid, paragraph 4 Back

Appendix C, Submission No.1, paragraphs 11 - 25 Back

ibid, paragraph 27 Back

ibid, paragraph 11 Back

ibid, paragraph 39 Back

Appendix C, Submission No.1, paragraph 36 Back

ibid, paragraph 28 Back