By Darian Macey, April 3 2025
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works has approved the Department of Defence’s Project LAND 8113 Phase 1 facilities program, clearing the way for a $376.7 million infrastructure investment ([2]).
This project will deliver new and upgraded facilities to support the Australian Army’s emerging Long Range Fires capability – essentially a land-based long-range rocket and missile artillery system. The works are split between two key sites: the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia and the Puckapunyal Military Area in Victoria.
- Edinburgh (SA): Construction of new working accommodation (including a regimental headquarters and training facilities), vehicle storage shelters, maintenance workshops, sustainment and secure storage facilities, living-in accommodation (barracks), and supporting civil infrastructure ([3]). This will effectively establish a home base for a new Army long-range rocket artillery unit in the Adelaide region.
- Puckapunyal (Vic): Upgrades and adaptive reuse of existing facilities at the School of Artillery to improve training, maintenance and storage capacity ([3]). Puckapunyal will serve as the primary training hub for the Long-Range Fires capability, leveraging its established Army artillery school and ranges.
Defence’s aim is to enable a “scalable, rapidly deployable, and potent” Long Range Fires capability for the ADF ([3]). In practical terms, the Army is acquiring the US-made HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) launchers and associated missiles to dramatically extend the range of its artillery. Each HIMARS launcher is a truck-mounted system firing guided rockets and missiles. The new infrastructure will allow Army to raise and sustain at least one regiment of these systems. (Notably, Australia plans to acquire 42 HIMARS launchers under Land 8113 ([1]), which indicates the scale of the capability being introduced.) The approved facilities will provide the necessary headquarters, garages, armament storage and training areas to operate this advanced artillery asset effectively.
Alignment with Strategy: DSR, NDS, IIP and GWEO
The investment in long-range fires infrastructure comes in direct response to Australia’s updated defence strategy. The 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and the forthcoming 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS) identified long-range strike – including land-based missiles – as a priority area to strengthen Australia’s deterrence. In fact, the PWC noted that Project Land 8113 Phase 1 “aligns with the 2023 DSR and the 2024 NDS, which require the rapid acceleration and expansion of the Army’s land-based maritime strike program” ([2]). The government’s Integrated Investment Program (IIP) has likewise earmarked funding for long-range fires capabilities and their enablers as part of the broader force modernisation plan. This PWC approval essentially translates those strategic mandates into tangible action on the ground.
Crucially, the project also ties into the Commonwealth’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Strategy. The GWEO enterprise is aimed at boosting Australia’s sovereign capabilities in advanced missiles and munitions – from local manufacturing to larger stockpiles. Land 8113’s new facilities will directly support the deployment of guided weapons (like the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rounds and Precision Strike Missiles for HIMARS) and their sustainment. As Defence Minister Richard Marles remarked, land-based strike systems are “a critical element in achieving a strategy of denial” under the new national defence strategy ([1][4]). The government has already moved to accelerate these capabilities – for example, a domestic assembly line for HIMARS rockets was contracted in early 2024 ([1]). By building the necessary base infrastructure now, Defence is ensuring that the Army’s nascent long-range rocket units will have the facilities they need to train, maintain and operate these guided weapons effectively. In essence, this project is where strategy meets concrete and steel: it provides the bricks-and-mortar foundation for the high-tech capabilities envisioned by the DSR, NDS, and GWEO initiatives.
Adelaide Region Delivery and Workforce Impacts
With PWC clearance, Defence is expected to move quickly into implementation. According to project timelines, design work was slated to conclude by early 2025, and a construction Request for Tender was scheduled for release in March 2025 ([3]). Major construction is anticipated to commence by late 2025 and run through to late 2028 ([3]). This timeframe aligns with the goal of having the first Long Range Fires unit operational around the same time that new missile systems (like HIMARS and Precision Strike) become available.
The project will create substantial work for the construction industry. Defence has noted it will engage a diverse range of consultants, contractors and trades, and will offer opportunities for up-skilling and jobs during the build ([3]). However, this boost comes amid an exceptionally busy period for defence and civil infrastructure in South Australia – raising some concerns about workforce capacity and resource competition in the region. The Adelaide area is experiencing a defence construction boom: for instance, work is ramping up on a new submarine construction yard at Osborne to support the AUKUS nuclear submarines program. It’s estimated that up to an additional 4,000 construction workers will be required just to build the submarine yard by the end of the decade ([5]). That massive demand, coupled with other projects like shipbuilding infrastructure, base redevelopments, and civil works, means the pool of skilled trades and contractors in SA will be stretched.
This is part of a larger national trend. Australia’s infrastructure pipeline (across defence, transportation, energy and more) is at record levels, and labour shortages are biting. One analysis predicts a shortfall of about 229,000 construction workers in coming years, with trades in particularly tight supply ([6]). Defence-related construction is only a small slice (roughly 7%) of the total national infrastructure pipeline ([6]), so projects like Land 8113 must compete with many others for people and materials. In practical terms, there is a risk of schedule pressures or cost escalation if skilled labour, engineers or specialty sub-contractors become scarce in the Adelaide market during the build. For the Defence Estate community, this situation will sound familiar – it underscores the importance of careful workforce planning and perhaps staging of projects to avoid overload. On the positive side, the Long-Range Fires project can also be seen as a welcome injection of jobs and investment in the region, complementing Adelaide’s growing reputation as a defence industry hub. Local firms and workers stand to benefit if they can seize the opportunities (for example, civil contractors in SA, suppliers, and apprentices could all find work on-site). Balancing these opportunities with the broader resource challenges will be a key focus as the project moves forward.
Likely Industry Players and Delivery Strategy
Given the scale (nearly $377 million) and complexity of this project, it will likely be delivered under Defence’s new Infrastructure Panel for Major Construction (DIP-MC). The DIP-MC 2025–2030 panel was established to streamline procurement of large Defence construction projects (those over $200 million) and to push accelerated delivery with closer industry collaboration ([7]). Following the DSR and NDS, Defence expects a sustained surge of major projects, and the panel is a mechanism to have pre-qualified, experienced head contractors ready to tender for and deliver such works ([7]). This means the Land 8113 facilities will likely be tendered among a select group of Tier-1 construction firms rather than an open public tender.
Which companies might build this? On past form, several major Defence infrastructure contractors will be eyeing off this project. Likely contenders include Sitzler, Lendlease, CPB, Laing O’Rourke and Multiplex, among others. These firms (all part of recent or current Defence building panels) have delivered large military facility projects before – from air base redevelopments to army base upgrades – and have the necessary scale and security credentials. It is common for such companies to operate as Managing Contractors for Defence, coordinating the design and construction phases with a high degree of Commonwealth oversight. Local Adelaide-based construction players (such as Hansen Yuncken, BESIX Watpac or Built Environs) may also partner with the Tier-1 firms or join the supply chain, especially given the South Australian location. The competitive tender process will consider not just price, but each bidder’s demonstrated capacity to handle complex, multi-site projects and their understanding of Defence’s requirements. In an environment where, as noted, contractors have plenty of alternative work, Defence will be keen to attract strong proposals – possibly by allowing reasonable commercial flexibility and ensuring the project is seen as an attractive, achievable opportunity for industry. The DIP-MC panel approach should help in this regard, since those on the panel have already committed interest in Defence work and understand the unique demands involved.
Opportunities for Subcontractors and Consultants
A project of this nature will involve a wide array of subcontractors, specialist suppliers, and professional consultants. The head contractor(s) that ultimately lead the build will be looking for reliable partners in several key capability areas. Based on the scope of works, some of the in-demand subcontracting and consulting areas are likely to include:
- Design and Engineering Services: As this is construct-only, there will be limited opportunities for design and engineering firms.
- Secure and Specialised Construction Trades: The head contractor will subcontract much of the actual construction. Expect significant packages for earthworks and civil works (site preparation, drainage, pavements), building construction (concrete works, steel fabrication, prefabricated structures for warehouses/garages, etc.), and finishes and fit-out for offices and accommodation. Given the nature of a military facility, there will be specialised needs such as secure communications infrastructure, high-security fencing and access control systems, and possibly construction of explosive ordnance storage bunkers or reinforced armouries. Subcontractors with proven capability in high-security or high-safety environments (for example, those who have built explosive ordnance facilities or heavy vehicle maintenance workshops before) will be highly valued.
- Electrical, ICT and Mechanical Contractors: Modern Defence facilities are tech-intensive. The project will need contractors to install robust electrical grids, backup power, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems capable of supporting workshops and sensitive equipment storage. Additionally, setting up the digital backbone – fibre-optic networks, communication rooms, and secure IT systems – is a critical component. Specialists in these fields who hold security clearances (or the ability to obtain them) and who understand Defence’s rigorous specs (such as TEMPEST standards for secure comms, etc.) will be sought after. Likewise, consultants in project management, cost control, and engineering surveying will find roles to play.
- Local and Indigenous Participation: Large Defence projects typically include objectives for local industry involvement and sometimes Indigenous participation. Head contractors may look for local South Australian companies to supply materials (concrete, quarry products, etc.) or labour, to satisfy these requirements and build community goodwill. They may also partner with Indigenous-owned businesses for certain works or training initiatives. Subcontractors that can tick these boxes – for example, a local SA electrical firm with a good track record, or an Indigenous-owned earthmoving company – will improve a bidder’s value proposition.
For subcontractors and consultants aiming to get involved, the key will be demonstrating capability and capacity to deliver on-time and to the standards required, despite the heated construction market. Head contractors will be selective: they will favour teams with strong safety records, the ability to scale up manpower when needed, and solid experience on comparable projects. Security compliance is also a practical necessity (personnel may need baseline security clearances to work on-site, and firms must handle sensitive information appropriately).
From an industry perspective, the Land 8113 Phase 1 facilities project is significant not only for its dollar value, but for what it represents. It’s one of the first major Defence infrastructure projects born out of the 2023 Strategic Review’s new direction. The successful delivery of this project will be watched closely as a bellwether for how well Defence and industry can turn ambitious strategy into reality on the ground. If managed well, it will strengthen Army capability while providing a boost to the defence construction sector – but it will require careful coordination of resources and expertise to pull off amid a very busy infrastructure climate. The DECNet community will be following developments with interest as the project moves into the contracting phase and, ultimately, onto construction sites in Edinburgh and Puckapunyal.
References
[1] – https://psnews.com.au/glmrs-missile-rounds-to-be-manufactured-in-australia-from-2025/125639/
[2] – https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Public_Works/DODLAND8113Phase1/Report/Chapter_2_-Facilities_to_Support_LAND_8113_Phase_1_Long_Range_Fires
[3] – https://www.defence.gov.au/about/locations-property/infrastructure-projects/facilities-to-support-long-range-fires
[4] – https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/second-long-range-fires-regiment-approved
[5] – https://statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/defence-industry
[6] – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/workforce-challenges-in-northern-and-western-defence-construction/
[7] – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tendup_tendersaustralia-defence-australiangovernmentprocurement-activity-7226395306773348353-34z6
Author: Darian Macey
Darian is a former Engineering Officer with the RAE with tertiary qualifications in Engineering and Project Management. He is a leading practitioner within Australia's NSI sector with previous employment in Government, project management and building contractor organisations.
