New ADF Chinderah facilities

THE Australian Defence Force has opened a new facility at Chinderah for the Australian Army’s A Company, 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment and 225 Army Cadet Unit.

The $12 million project provides the army with fit-for-purpose facilities including a multi-user depot, storage, ablutions, vehicle parking and related infrastructure.

The locally based 41st Battalion is a reserve unit which has provided natural disaster relief support, including during the 2019-2020 bushfires and the 2021 and 2022 Eastern Australia floods.

The facility will play a critical role in supporting ADF operational readiness, force posture and structure, and ensuring a safe and maintained estate for those personnel who live, work and train on Defence bases.

Commanding Officer, 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Danial Healy, said the new Gordon VC Multi-User Depot provided the 41st Battalion with state-of-the-art infantry, transport and supply chain training and unit administration facilities.

“The official opening of the depot celebrates the completion of the project and the opportunities that it brings to the battalion, the army cadets and the wider community, from training activities to its use as a support base for domestic operations in times of need,” he said.

The majority-owned Indigenous business, DDR Pty Ltd, was awarded the contract and will be supported by project manager Jabin Project Management, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned company.

Director General of Capital Facilities and Infrastructure, Air Commodore Ron Tilley, said Defence was committed to providing opportunities to Indigenous-owned companies.

“It’s great to see another project completed, ensuring the Defence Estate is providing fit-for-purpose facilities for our people who live, work and train across the estate,” he said.

The Gordon VC multi-user depot provides the Australian Army fit-for-purpose facilities, including a multi-user depot, storage, ablutions, vehicle parking and associated infrastructure.

Australian Army soldiers also hosted an Army Reserve Open Day, showcasing the latest equipment and assets that Defence possesses in the newly opened Gordon VC multi-user depot.

Based in New South Wales, 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, is a reserve unit of the Australian Army.