The Department of Defence
The Commonwealth Department of Defence maintains a large estate comprising 70 major bases, more than 100 training ranges and hundreds of leased properties across the country. It is comprised of property, facilities and other infrastructure which enable the development and application of Defence capabilities.
The fundamental purpose of the Defence Estate is to support the delivery of Defence Capability. Targetted investment to reshape and renew it to meet future needs is constant and ongoing challenge for the Department.
Outcomes & Insights
These business cases for the Department of Defence assess, evaluate and compare various investment options to meet users’ needs at Defence premises across the country. They bring together input from local base stakeholders, senior Defence personnel, designers, cost planners, environmental specialists and others to articulate the case for Commonwealth investment in the estate to support and enhance capability.
The business cases must demonstrate how the recommended project option delivers a measurable capability uplift while also offering value for money.
The Department
of Defence
Direct Client: Beca, Turner Townsend, WSP
End Client: Defence (E&IG)
Primary Service: Strategic Advice
Secondary Service: Procurement Support
Sector: Defence & National Security
Background
As for all Commonwealth Departments, investment of government funds in the Defence estate is subject to an approvals process, which typically involves evaluation of project options against a given budget.
This process of option development and evaluation is undertaken over one or more stages of assessment, with the approval by Defence and other Commonwealth Departments (such as the Department of Finance) based on consideration of a Detailed Business Case.
Our Role
Aalto’s staff have been preparing Detailed Business Cases for Defence estate works for more than 15 years, and have a solid understanding of the requirements involved in preparing a robust case for investment. The Defence process for estate investment involves a number of unique aspects, including alignment with Defence capability requirements and Defence engineering and other technical protocols as well as procurement methods and integrations with existing base services contracts and operational mandates for active bases.
In recent years, Aalto has completed a number of business cases for Defence proposals which have been approved by Government and progressed to market for delivery. The projects addressed in these business cases include:
Defence Airfield upgrade projects - major mid-life upgrades and life extension to aircraft pavements, airfield lighting, drainage and related infrastructure across key bases (NSW, Qld, NT and WA)
Upgrades to Defence armouries to suit new weapons systems (nationwide)
Works to upgrade or renew Defence training ranges (Qld)
Works to enhance the delivery of speciality defensive munitions which are utilised by the Australian Navy
General base upgrade works (RAAF Curtin, WA and RAAF Point Cook, Victoria)
Upgrades to munitions testing ranges (SA)