Value

In 2019 Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price announced a $42 million overhaul for critical defence infrastructure at the Singleton Military Area (SMA). The Singleton mid-term refresh would improve amenities for more than 1,000 defence and civilian personnel based there. The project to build a new transport workshop and upgrade existing infrastructure would utilise local industry in the Hunter Valley region.

The SMA is comprised of Lone Pine Barracks and the Singleton Training Area, with Lone Pine Barracks being located eight kilometres south of Singleton. The barracks houses the School of Infantry, Joint Logistics Unit (East), the Australian Army Infantry Museum, as well as Estate & Infrastructure Group SMA and other regular support services.

MBC Group was engaged to provide specialist technical advice and assistance related to building surveying for this project under a Design Services Sub-contract (DSSC-01).

Over an eighteen-month design and construction period, MBC Group advised Aurecon’s design manager and the architect (HDR), on matters relating to building approval of both the permanent and temporary works in accordance with the BWM and NCC.

The permanent works included:

- Upgrade of existing services and in-ground infrastructure, including, passive ICT, electrical, water, wastewater, stormwater and gas
- New facilities, including a workshop and administrative building
- Demolition of existing facilities, including ten buildings of various descriptions
- Upgrade and refurbishment of existing facilities, including working accommodation and mess facilities

The temporary works consisted of a mess facility built as part of the builder’s staging and decanting plan. The temporary mess facility had to serve over 200 staff and trainees with three meals a day during the 12-month refurbishment of the permanent mess.