ArMy PreSence in South AuStrAliA - Defence SA

ChAPTer 4:
why SouTh AuSTrALIA?
Basing Principles and other Factors
87. In the 2009 Defence White Paper, the
Government identified five strategic principles
to guide future basing decisions 13 and they
are quoted below. While agreeing that these
are major considerations for basing units, the
Study considers that other factors also need
to be considered. In particular, the proximity
to suitable training areas, the level of support
from the local community, the level of political
support, the ability to undertake synthetic
training and access to supporting industry
should all be considered as factors when
considering basing units or changing the level
of activity. The Study has analysed all these
principles and factors and concludes that
South Australia is highly compliant.
Strategic defensive Position
2012
“ Defence base locations should be aligned with
strategic requirements and ensure
critical capabilities are suitably dispersed
for security reasons”. 14
88. There are major natural resources located
in South Australia which are of national
significance including the newly approved
Olympic Dam mine. The shipbuilding and
submarine maintenance facilities at Techport
Australia the control centre for JORN and the
secure basing for 92 Wing are just some of the
important Defence assets in South Australia.
While these assets may be remote from any
likely threat, the Army capabilities based in
Adelaide are nonetheless well scaled and
situated to protect them.
89. More importantly, the location of Adelaide
provides the best available defensive posture,
while also offering a centrally located and well
protected mounting base for operations to the
north and west. Adelaide is less exposed to
any form of off-shore pre-emptive attack than
any other Defence location in Australia.
• By road, Adelaide is 3,000 km from Darwin
on our northern coastline, 2,700 km from
Perth on our western coastline and 2,100
km from Brisbane on our eastern coastline.
As such, Adelaide affords a high level of
security for force elements and facilities
located there from any hostile force
travelling by land and/or air.
• By sea, Adelaide offers similar defensive
advantages, adding an additional six days
steaming time for any hostile naval force
from north of Australia.
Adelaide therefore provides a sound
location in which to safely base Army
capabilities, soldiers and their families.
90. Adelaide is also well placed on the Australian
mainland for offensive operations as units
based there can easily deploy elsewhere
by accessing the excellent internal lines of
communications to the west, north and east by
rail, air, sea or road.
• Adelaide offers multiple runways for all
aircraft types at Adelaide Airport as well
as the C-17, A330 Multi Role Tanker
Transport aircraft and B-747 capable
runway adjacent to Horseshoe Barracks
at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
• The units based in Adelaide also have
access to international deep-water port
facilities with substantial existing Roll-on
Roll-off capabilities just 40 minutes away
at Outer Harbor.
• In addition, Adelaide is directly connected
by first class roads and standard gauge rail
to Darwin, Perth and the eastern States.
91. The Study has already identified that the
MBTA, CUTA and WPA are readily accessible
from Horseshoe Barracks, and importantly,
they all are available throughout the year. The
relatively short distances from such highly
effective training areas compares favourably
with other basing options.
urban and regional disposition
“ Defence should maintain an urban
and regional disposition to enable the
continued provision of part-time capability
into the future”. 15
Army Presence in South Australia Maintaining the Momentum 38