A generational review of the Federal Government’s Defence landholdings will bring a number of key redevelopment sites to the market across Australia.
The Defence Estate Audit identified 68 properties to be wholly or partially sold through an expression of interest process, to be managed by the Federal Department of Finance. The Audit found that the Defence held too many properties which were no longer fit for purpose and were disproportionately located within the south of the country.
The sites span all states and territories and include both metropolitan and regional locations. They range from army barracks, air force and naval bases to rifle ranges and golf courses.
Prominent metropolitan locations include the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, the HMAS Penguin naval base in Mosman, and RAAF Williams in Point Cook.
Further information on the Defence Estate Audit sites, including state and territory fact sheets, can be viewed at the following link: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/locations-property/delivering-future-estate.
While the release of these sites presents redevelopment opportunities, the long-term heritage use of sites presents a range of heritage and infrastructure challenges that will need to be factored into any future development outcome. Many properties have long Defence histories, meaning Commonwealth heritage protections under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will continue to apply.
In some locations, future planning controls will also be required where Defence-related zones related are in place or, as is the case with Victoria, sit outside of the applied planning schemes.
Ratio has extensive experience assisting Government agencies, including Defence, with the disposal of land and redevelopment planning. Our work has included reviewing planning opportunities and constraints, spatial testing of development scenarios, and assessing infrastructure capacity and requirements.
Our expertise across planning, transport, urban design, waste, landscape architecture and civil provides valuable insight into pre-purchase feasibility assessments. This includes:
Our multidisciplinary team works across Australia, bringing together expertise in planning, urban design, transport, civil engineering, landscape architecture and waste. We provide feasibility advice across NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS and SA, helping clients understand the opportunities and constraints that shape the future of these unique sites. To learn more about the Defence Land Audit process, contact us at mail@ratio.com.au
