Central to Defence has identified five key opportunities that could support Defence growth, strengthen Australia’s Defence capability, create opportunities for local industry, and deliver lasting economic benefits for Central Queensland.
Informed by community consultation, industry and Defence engagement, and independent financial analysis, these opportunities have the potential to attract investment, create jobs, grow local manufacturing and strengthen regional supply chains.
Many of these opportunities are designed to encourage co-investment and shared use by Defence and the private sector to support year-round economic activity and long-term regional growth.
Central to Defence is working with industry, government, and Defence stakeholders to bring these opportunities to reality. If your organisation would like to learn more or discuss a potential partnership, please contact our team. More information on these opportunities can be found in the Gateway to the Pacific prospectus.
The Defence Logistics Hub would be a scalable, coordinated hub-and-spoke logistics network across Central Queensland – based around a core facility in the Rockhampton Region.
Linking assets such as the Port of Gladstone, Rockhampton Airport, Shoalwater Bay Training Area and the region’s national road and rail corridors, the hub supports Defence’s focus on elevated theatre logistics, distributed sustainment and supply chain resilience.
Incorporated into the hub would be; roll-on roll-off infrastructure, airport storage, first point of entry capabilities for international personnel and equipment, and a multi-user land repair and maintenance facility.
Development of a purpose-built, large scale short-term accommodation facility in Rockhampton would provide Defence-first accommodation during existing training exercises, and operations.
Designed to be 3 and a half stars with 1,150 beds – with a dining hall, gym, meeting facilities and conference rooms – it would be designed for Defence-first use – but available for large group bookings to meet demand aligned with major events, large projects and transient workforces.
The Medical and Emergency Response and Rescue Training Centre (MERT Co-E) would be a purpose-built, technology-driven simulation and training facility for Defence, emergency services and allied sectors.
The centre would allow nationally significant medical, emergency response and rescue training to be conducted in a high-fidelity but safe environment – improving Defence resilience and civil-military collaboration.
Positioned at the Port of Gladstone, the Uncrewed Systems Hub would be a dedicated precinct to support the development, testing, sustainment and commercialisation of uncrewed surface and subsurface maritime vessels.
The Hub would include autonomous berthing, docking, launching and recovery systems – as well as a secure Remote Operations Centre for mission control and planning – accelerating Defence investment in autonomous systems and emerging technologies.
The Port of Gladstone is also well placed as a Submarine Support Facility, as the only port certified to receive nuclear powered vessels between Brisbane and Darwin.
The facility would allow for submarine berthing and support, resupply, re-arm and logistics and minor maintenance and repairs.
