RAAF Edinburgh is home to the RAAF’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities and command, including the P-8A Poseidons of No 11 Squadron. Photo: ADF.
The South Australian Government is investigating rezoning a massive parcel of land near RAAF Base Edinburgh in an effort to bolster the state’s growing defence industry strategy.
The proposed rezoning would be for a defence and aerospace precinct to be built immediately north of RAAF Edinburgh to foster and stimulate the defence industry to base itself in South Australia and generate high-paying jobs in the region.
Edinburgh is a key base of operations for the RAAF’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and is home to some 3500 ADF personnel.
It is home base to the RAAF’s Air Warfare Centre, the P-8A Poseidons of Number 11 Squadron, Number 9 Squadron which remotely flies the new MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime patrol aircraft which are based at RAAF Tindal in the NT, and the soon-to-be-introduced MC-55 electronic warfare aircraft.
The base also houses the headquarters of 92 Wing which oversees the RAAF’s ISR squadrons, the No 1 Remote Sensor Unit which operates the Australian-designed Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar Network (JORN), and the RAAF’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU).
The Australian Army’s 1st Brigade Headquarters and 1st Armoured Regiment is also located at Edinburgh, and the base will also soon host the Army’s 16th Regiment which will be the service’s primary air defence unit.
At nearby Salisbury and Edinburgh Parks in the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group facility, and several major contractors including BAE Systems Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia.
The rezoning of 400 hectares of land at Penfield will be investigated under the Defence and Aerospace Precinct Code Amendment and will facilitate a broad range of activities including logistical, industrial, warehousing, storage, training and other business.
“This proposed rezoning is an opportunity to transform underutilised land into a new defence precinct that would create jobs and expand SA’s growing defence industry,” Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said.
“It is a unique opportunity to take advantage of the area’s strategic location next to RAAF Base Edinburgh and future-proof this area for more specialised jobs.”
The initiative will prioritise defence and aerospace-related jobs and build upon the existing industries already based in the region at Edinburgh Parks.
Following detailed investigations for traffic study, infrastructure requirements, interface management and concept plans, the next phase will be community consultation and targeted stakeholder engagement.
Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan said: “South Australia’s defence industry is growing, and this proposed rezoning presents an opportunity to further reinforce our reputation as the defence state.
“A new defence and aerospace precinct next to the RAAF base will build upon the existing operations in the area and encourage further investment in our state.”
The investigation comes at a time when neighbouring state Western Australia is investing in its own defence industry, seeking to diversify an economy largely dependent on primary resources. WA recently sent its Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia to Washington to create and strengthen ties with military partners there.
Defence initiatives such as AUKUS, and other alliances and bilateral agreements like the recent deal with Canada for procurement of JORN technology, provide Australia with opportunities to expand defence capacity.
