The construction of the $170 million headquarters and Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) for Rheinmetall Defence Australia is progressing well with another key milestone reached in the ambitious building program.
State Development Minister Kate Jones said the administration building, that will accommodate up to 170 of Rheinmetall’s staff, has now been completed and handed over to Rheinmetall for fit-out.
“This new centre will create jobs for locals and pump millions into the local economy,” Ms Jones said.
“COVID-19 will not get in the way of construction. Now more than ever before, our construction industry needs the government’s support – that’s exactly what we’re doing with this project.
“Today is another huge milestone, with this building now officially complete.”
Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said the Palaszczuk Government committed to build the state-of-the-art facility after Rheinmetall was awarded the Commonwealth’s $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 project to manufacture Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) for the Australian Army.
“This is exactly what we need in our community – workers on site, building a centre that we know will create a new industry in Bundamba,” he said.
“It’s a huge footprint. Eleven hectares worth of development, providing great opportunities for locals when we need it most.
“We’re providing ongoing employment to a wide range of workers and sub-contractors – steel fixers, concreters, brick-layers, plasterers, electricians, security technicians, painters, roofers and landscapers to name a few.
“With about 180 people on-site each day, Watpac has been able to manage the continuing program of construction activities with a strict adherence to the social distancing measures to protect workers’ health.”
The distinctive three-storey administration building features a variety of workspaces, meeting rooms, an auditorium and a commercial canteen with the capacity to produce meals for the facility’s entire workforce.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said the MILVEHCOE was already being operationalised with a significant number of medium and heavy recovery vehicles currently the focus of integration work along the truck production line.
“Six weeks ago, our production hall was empty and, in spite of COVID-19, we are continuing commissioning and ramp-up to full production for our LAND 121 Phase 3B/5B activities. MILVEHCOE is now considered Rheinmetall’s centre of excellence for recovery vehicles globally,” Mr Stewart said.
“Already, we have integration work underway on Boxer CRVs within the MILVEHCOE. The Boxer vehicles are at various stages of completion and we continue to deliver vehicles to the Commonwealth. This work is a key component of our knowledge transfer activities for full rate Boxer production in Australia.”
Rheinmetall is well-progressed with fitting out the 30,000 square metre production building that was handed over in mid-February.
“If the main production facility is the engine room of Rheinmetall’s delivery of next-generation defence projects, then the administration building will be the control centre,” Ms Jones said.
“We look forward to delivering the entirety of the facility to Rheinmetall over the coming months.
“It will be the most advanced military vehicle manufacturing facility delivering sovereign capability for the benefit of all Australians – the best vehicles for our servicemen and women, built in Australia by Australians.”
Learn more about the LAND 400 project and Queensland’s industrial defence capabilities.
