Defence Airfield Infrastructure:

The Challenges

Richard Cowley

Strategic Development Director

Defence Estate Summit

What we do

Defence • Design • Build • Upgrade • Surface • Maintain

Roads & Bridges • Design • Build • Maintain • Operate

Airports & Ports • Build • Surface • Maintain

Energy & Mining • Infrastructure • Surface • Maintain

Water & Wastewater • Design • Build • Upgrade • Maintain

Asset Management • Monitor • Manage • Maintain

Land Development • Residential • Industrial • Commercial

Rail • Build • Upgrade • Maintain

Our Defence Airfield Experience

Airfield Construction Challenges

RAAF Darwin

RAAF Darwin

Stakeholders • Dual users

Flight Operations • 4 hour window

Design • Alternative pavement

Environment • Binder sourced locally

National Maintenance

Project

National Maintenance Project

Construction • Dedicated teams

• Innovative products

Stakeholders • Long Term Relationships

Safety • Works Safety Officers

Location • Mobile teams & equipment

JP154

Counter Improvised

Explosive Device -

Nurrungar

JP154 CIED - Nurrungar

Environment • Cultural heritage

• Indigenous engagement

Stakeholders • Shared understanding of ‘Why’

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RAAF Base Tindal

P0006 RAAF Base Tindal

Location • Mobile equipment

• Local suppliers

Flight Operations • Pitch Black

• Detailed program

• Flexibility

Environment • 38 degrees daily

• Workforce Management

RAAF Base Woomera

RAAF Base Woomera

Stakeholders • Doubled size of town

• Stimulus for township

Construction • Innovation - Jetbloc

Safety • At and away from work

Key Lessons

Stakeholders • Collaborative

• Long term focus

• Part of the community

Construction • Our People

• Innovate

Design • Technical Understanding

Flight Operations • Plan, plan and plan – both strategically and tactically

Key Lessons

Environment • Environment is challenging – plan for it.

• Optimse Sustainable Opportunities

Location • Source locally

• Mobile and flexible teams

• Self-sufficiency

Safety • Zero Harm

• Risk intelligence