There are fears of a construction slowdown at the Tindal RAAF Base.
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Stage 6 of the upgrade works, worth almost $1 billion, is still to be formally approved, the Katherine Times understands.
Already the major contractor on the base, Lendlease, has hinted its workforce would be reduced in coming months waiting on approval of the next stage of work from the Federal Government.
Hundreds of workers have employed over recent years on upgrading the base, chiefly to prepare for the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighters from 2022.
Tindal is to receive 16 of the super stealthy F-35A's at a combined cost of about $2 billion to replace its ageing squadron of F/A-18A/B Hornets.
Tenders have already been formalised for R8099, stage 6 of the works at Tindal.
Officially the tender is currently in the planning phase, awaiting approval, slated to begin in October this year and continue until April 2022.
A Defence Department spokesman said: "Proposed Project R8099 RAAF, Base Tindal Redevelopment Stage 6, will upgrade critical base infrastructure, trunk engineering services (power, water and sewage) and some accommodation to ensure reliability of essential base services.
"This project is part of a larger program of works which will also involve upgrades to the RAAF Base Tindal airfield and associated infrastructure to support Air Force capability. The 2016 Defence Integrated Investment Program has identified around $200 - $300 million for the RAAF Tindal Redevelopment.
"This project is currently in design development. Subject to Government and Parliamentary approval, construction is planned to occur over a six-year period commencing in late 2020."
Stage 6 of the Tindal works is planned to:
- Providing the Base infrastructure and trunk engineering services necessary to support the growth in demand from expansion in Base activities
- Replacing facilities or equipment at the end of their useful and economic life, which no longer perform to the required specification
- Reducing ongoing maintenance costs, by installing more efficient or modern infrastructure
The briefing follows the official launch of the $870 million tender to upgrade the base.
The building program will continue the current work to prepare for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport.
Tindal's runway will be built to accept the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport.
"The solution to the objective will aim to increase Runway 14/32 length, width, shoulders and strength. In addition a realignment and upgrade of Taxiway A, a new air movement terminal, new aircraft apron, new fuel farm and associated other infrastructure services is to be provided to efficiently operate KC-30A in addition to the existing use by 75SQN and other transiting aircraft," tender documents state.
It will be compatible with refuelling the P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and F-35A Lightning II when these aircraft enter service.
The Federal Government has purchased seven new MQ-4C Triton drones worth between $2-$3 billion and RAAF Base Tindal has been named as a forward operating base for the fleet.
Project R8109, the United States Force Posture Initiatives involving upgrades at Tindal is also in the mix.
More than 350 people are believed to have been employed on construction work in recent years at Tindal.
Lendlease previously estimated 10-20 per cent of the workforce were Katherine based employees.
Hostels have been built in Katherine and out on the base to house many of the workers.
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