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Australia-Singapore Military Training InitiativeNewsletter | February 2021

Singapore’s 30th military training anniversary in Australia: Another milestone in an enduring relationshipDuring her second official visit to Singapore on 20 October 2020, the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC met with key Singaporean officials to discuss strengthening the Australia-Singapore defence and security partnership, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training in Australia. The Minister, along with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, and her counterpart, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, were able to mark the commencement of SAF’s training in Australia 30 years ago in 1990 – a significant milestone in Australia and Singapore’s long history of bilateral cooperation.

Singapore is a close security partner, reflected in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Their long-standing force generation activities in Australia support our shared interests in regional stability. When the ASMTI reaches

A message from Commodore Eric Young, Program ManagerI am very excited to write the introduction for our first newsletter of 2021, having recently taken on the role of Director General Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI) from my predecessor, and friend, Commodore Jonathan Earley. Commodore Earley and I are exceptionally grateful for the support that you provided, and for the way that you and your teams stepped up, in a very challenging year, ensuring bushfire and COVID-19 impacts were minimised, and that 2020 was ultimately a highly productive and successful year for the ASMTI. With your continued support, I am absolutely confident that 2021 is going to be another positive year of progress for the ASMTI, no matter the challenges ahead.

As 2020 wrapped up, there were some exciting milestones. Singapore marked 30 years of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training in Australia. In parallel, there was a significant amount of work done to elevate our relationship status with Singapore, and bring the ASMTI Treaty into force on 10 December. These milestones demonstrate the strength of our relationship, while also securing the long-term future of the ASMTI, and with it, our ongoing commitment to Central and North Queensland. The Minister for Defence, Secretary, Chief of Defence Force and their Singaporean counterparts marked these significant milestones during a COVID-safe video conference and the virtual unveiling of a commemorative plaque at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) on 15 December.

I have no doubt that the ASMTI will continue to provide a critical avenue to: further strengthen our partnership with Singapore; build critical Australian Defence capability; and provide enduring economic benefits to Central and North Queensland.

Having recently visited the region, I have seen for myself the great work that you and your teams are doing. It is also great to see that core lessons identified in Central Queensland are already being applied to the Greenvale Training Area (GVTA) in North Queensland, now that CPB Contractors has been appointed to deliver the first phase of works. I am pleased to include in this edition a full map of the GVTA boundary, which will greatly enhance the training capacity in the region.

My team and I will be heading back to Central and North Queensland soon. I am very much looking forward to seeing further progress across both sites and getting to meet more of you in person. In this edition, we profile Amcor Civil, which are doing great work in delivering bulk earth works at SWBTA.

I am exceptionally positive about the year ahead in both Central and North Queensland and working with you and your teams to deliver a key program for our country. As always, my team and I are ready and willing to assist you with any queries you may have, so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Image: A commemorative plaque was installed at Camp Growl, which has housed many SAF personnel who have trained at the SWBTA, marking their 30th training anniversary in Australia.

Keep across all the latest ASMTI news and events on our website.

Australia-Singapore Military Training InitiativeNewsletter | February 2021

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maturity, up to 14,000 SAF personnel will conduct unilateral training in Australia for up to 18 weeks per year for 25 years.

During her visit, the Minister conveyed her sincere gratitude on behalf of the Australian Government for Singapore’s support during the devastating Black Summer bushfires in early 2020. Singapore provided vital assistance in the form of CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which were used to evacuate fire ravaged communities.

Joint venture leverages local Central Queensland expertise Amcor Civil may seem like the new kids on the block. But look closer and you’ll see they are old hands, with all the local know-how. A joint venture between tier 2 civil contracting company ALLROADS and Central Queensland business Amcor Quarries & Concrete, Amcor Civil won a $5.8 million subcontract to deliver bulk earth works at the ASMTI’s SWBTA site, in August 2020.

“ALLROADS is a mid-sized civil contractor. Amcor Quarries & Concrete is a successful local quarry company, and was our way of involving all the local suppliers, plant hire, labour etc in the project,” Amcor Civil Operations Director, Steve Jenkins said. “ALLROADS has a local footprint, but nothing like these guys.”

Amcor Civil, through ALLROADS, has also taken on both temporary and permanent staff to support their ASMTI work, and has relocated some of their key team members to the region, supporting local businesses in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With significant experience in government projects, Mr Jenkins said while his team enjoys the work, it’s more about the way they’re delivering it. “It’s a good sized project for us and it’s great to continue our work with the Commonwealth, but it’s more about the way we’re actually able to give back to the community.”

Amcor Civil has leveraged its existing relationship with On Country Workforce Solutions – regional leaders in Indigenous partnerships and collaboration, and endorsed by Traditional Custodians, the Darumbal people. “We have two trainees working on the project who we’re upskilling. Hopefully by the end of our ASMTI work, they’re fully upskilled, and we can either take them with us onto the next project, or they can go on to land work in the industry they’ve been upskilled in,” Mr Jenkins said.”

The ASMTI’s SWBTA Managing Contractor, Laing O’Rourke,

is regularly rolling out subcontractor packages, seeking expressions of interest from local subcontractors. While noting Defence procurement can seem complex, Mr Jenkins said it’s definitely worth seeing the process through. “For any interested subcontractors, you may not be able to come up with a tender overnight, but with persistence you will get there. It’s great to be a part of the ASMTI and working with the Managing Contractor.” As they wrap up their current subcontract, Amcor Civil is now looking to the future, aiming to secure more ASMTI work, and continue giving back to the regional community. For questions and general enquiries, email ASMTI@laingorourke.com.au.

ASMTI’s Greenvale Training Area takes shape It’s full steam ahead for the ASMTI’s Greenvale Training Area, since CPB Contractors were awarded the much-anticipated contract to deliver the first phase of works in November 2020. Now that sufficient land has been acquired to develop the training area, a map of the GVTA boundary is provided below. The map is also on the ASMTI website.

CPB Contractors has committed to targeting a massive 90 per cent of design sub-consultant packages from the North Queensland region, and has just made dozens available for tender. For more information, or to make a time to meet with the Townsville CPB Contractors team, email ASMTI.Greenvale@cpb.com.au.

Image: The Amcor Civil team at SWBTA, Central Queensland.

Dozens of design sub-consultant packages up for grabs in NQGVTA Managing Contractor CPB Contractors, has released twenty-five design sub-consultant packages, ranging from all types of engineering, to building certification to bushfire protection. Email ASMTI.Greenvale@cpbcon.com.au for more info.

Australia-Singapore Military Training InitiativeNewsletter | February 2021

Upcoming events

CONTACT USContact Sean Hawkins, ASMTI Defence Liaison Officer:

P: 0429 901 465

Visit the ASMTI website for more info or send us an email:

W: www.defence.gov.au/Initiatives/ASMTI | E: ASMTI.local@defence.gov.au

Treaty ratification secures ASMTI’s long-term future On 10 December 2020, the Australia-Singapore Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development was entered into force. An elevation of the Memorandum of Understanding that was in previously place, the Treaty provides a legally binding framework for the development of the advanced training areas, and Singapore’s training activities in Australia under this Initiative.

Australia and Singapore have broad and deep defence cooperation, including operating together in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, and the Middle East and in regional humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. The Treaty builds on 30 years of Singapore’s military training in Australia and underpins Singapore’s significant investment in, and commitment to, the ASMTI, which will also benefit the Australian Defence Force, while further strengthening our important partnership with Singapore.

At a time of global uncertainty, the Treaty provides greater certainty of the ASMTI’s long-term future and viability, and safeguards the local economic opportunities and benefits that will be delivered across the Initiative’s full lifespan.

DEFENCE BUSINESS 101 – 3rd & 4th March 2021Defence Jobs Queensland, a State Government initiative, is running two workshops on Defence projects in Queensland, with presentations by the ASMTI’s Liaison Officer Sean Hawkins, CPB Contractors and Defence Hub Townsville.

Wednesday 3 March 2021, 4pm–6pm: Dalrymple Trade Training Centre, Macpherson Street, Columbia (Charters Towers). See event page for more info.

Thursday 4 March 2021, 9am–11am: Rydges Southbank Townsville, 23 Palmer Street, South Townsville. See event page for more info.

PROJECTS UPDATE & INDUSTRY NETWORKING – 25th March 2021Capricorn Enterprise in association with Fitzroy Basin Association is holding a ‘Projects Update and Industry Networking Event’ where the ASMTI’s SWBTA Managing Contractor Laing O’Rourke will be among those presenting on Central Queensland projects, on 25th March 2021, from 3pm-6pm. Visit Capricorn Enterprise’s website for more info.

DEFENCE INDUSTRY BREAKFAST – 31st March 2021The Defence Industry Hub, as part of Defence Jobs Queensland, is running a ‘Defence Industry Breakfast’ at the Ocean International Hotel in Mackay on 31st March 2021, from 7am–8:30am. You’ll be able to hear from both ASMTI Managing Contractors’, as well as the QLD Defence Industry Hub. For more details and to register your interest, visit the event page.

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Image: Australia and Singapore’s Defence Ministers and Australian Defence officials mark Singapore’s 30th training anniversary and the ratification of the ASMTI Treaty via video conference.

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