Enhancing Defence capability and environmental sustainability.
The Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) Remediation Project was a key initiative to upgrade one of Australia’s premier Defence training environments 80 km north of Rockhampton, on the Central Queensland Coast. Prior to the acquisition of additional land for the Australian – Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI) project, SWBTA spanned over 274,000 hectares of land and 180,000 hectares of sea, supporting large-scale amphibious, land, and air operations.
Delivered under a Managing Contractor model, the project remediated vital facilities and infrastructure to ensure long-term environmental sustainability while enhancing the ADF’s operational readiness. To facilitate works across this expansive and remote landscape, two remote construction camps were established and maintained throughout the project duration.
Operating within sensitive Ramsar-listed wetlands, the project team’s commitment to stewardship earned accolades from Defence’s Environmental Planning, Assessment and Compliance Department (DEPAC) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Council.
Scope
The project team delivered extensive upgrades and new construction across multiple precincts within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area to support brigade-sized training exercises, amphibious operations, and aviation capabilities.
The phased delivery concluded with the final Notice of Completion for the UOTF in July 2022. Key works, included:
- Demolition of the existing Urban Operations Training Facility structures.
- Construction of a new Urban Operations Training Facility to support up to 2,000 soldiers, including full stormwater drainage, electrical and ICT systems.
- Williamson Airfield upgrade to accommodate heavy-lift Globemaster C-17 aircraft operations, plus new aeromedical evacuation landing zones (ELZ) and field hospital sites.
- Development of accommodation for up to 1,000 personnel with environmentally sustainable facilities and the establishment of two remote construction camps to support the workforce.
- Dingo Drive road reconstruction of 11.5 km, including new concrete floodways and culverts for safer creek crossings.
- Installation of new beach landing sites and access ramps at Freshwater Beach to support amphibious operations.
- Extensive upgrades to multiple creek crossings and supporting infrastructure throughout the training area.
1,000
Development of accommodation for up to 1,000 personnel with environmentally sustainable facilities.
C-17
Airfield upgrade to accommodate heavy-lift C-17 aircraft operations.
2,000
Construction of a new Urban Operations Training Facility to support up to 2,000 soldiers.
70%
Sustainable material use with 70% of construction waste recycled.
Social impact
The Shoalwater Bay Remediation project delivered enhanced training outcomes and long-term benefits for Defence capability, environmental protection, and the local region, including:
- Enhanced ADF training capability, supporting large-scale brigade exercises and combined land, sea, and air manoeuvres.
- Strong environmental stewardship, including remediation across RAMSAR-listed wetlands, low-discharge facilities.
- Sustainable material use with 70% of construction waste recycled.
- Collaborative engagement with the Darumbal People, including Indigenous contracting opportunities and protection of culturally significant sites.
- Exceeded Local Industry and Indigenous Land Use Agreement outcomes with 15.7% of Trade Packages warded to Indigenous Businesses and 84% Trade Package spend retained within the surrounding region 300km radius), involving over200 regional subcontractors.
- Successfully managed complex construction scheduled to ensure zero disruptions to major Defence exercises and critical training cycles.
This project was delivered by the Downer Transport Projects business which operated from December 2014 – June 2023 as part of Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd. In June 2023, DT Infrastructure Pty Ltd acquired the assets of the Downer Transport Projects business, including the transfer of approximately 1,200 employees, intellectual property rights, plant and equipment and other assets, and the novation of a number of projects which were ongoing at the time of the acquisition.