New army digs completed at South Bandiana

SOUTH BANDIANA, VICTORIA – Plenary Living has completed construction of its new $13 million Single LEAP 2 army accommodation facility at the Albury Wodonga Military Area (AWMA) in South Bandiana.

The facility at Gaza Ridge Barracks is the base’s first major residential development in over a decade and comprises 50 single living accommodation units and two adjoining large outdoor BBQ and dining areas.

Project managed and sponsored by Plenary Living and delivered by Richard Crookes Constructions, the facility’s predominately three storey residential buildings for live-in army personnel boast stunning views of the Huon Hill Parklands and Baranduda ranges.

The facility forms part of Plenary Living’s $900 million Single LEAP 2 Public Private Partnership project with the Department of Defence, which involves the delivery of more than 3,000 accommodation units across 14 military bases in all Australian Mainland states and territories.

Under the agreement with Defence, Plenary Group will also operate and maintain the Single LEAP 2 sites for a 30 year term with partner Compass Group Pty Ltd.

Plenary Group Principal John O’Rourke said that the facility is a fantastic addition to the Gaza Ridge Barracks and that residents assigned to the self-contained studio rooms have started to move in.

“This facility provides those living on base with a modern and comfortable home away from home,” Mr O’Rourke said. “We’re pleased to have partnered with Defence in the provision of these outstanding accommodation facilities for our service men and women right across the country.”

Mr O’Rourke said the facility at Gaza Ridge Barracks had been delivered on time and on budget despite having to navigate what was an extremely challenging site.

“This site has been one of the most challenging of the entire Single LEAP 2 project,” Mr O’Rourke said. “The team at Richard Crookes Constructions had to contend with a very constrained, very steep sloping site in close proximity to other functioning accommodation.”

The Gaza Ridge Barracks Single LEAP 2 site was constructed over 18 months commencing in May 2012 and involved approximately 500 workers, including more than 60 full time equivalent jobs.

Senior Project Manager at Richard Crookes Constructions, Simon Karkkainen, said his capable on-site delivery team did a stellar job in meeting all project milestones and that the majority of trades were sourced locally.

“Around 80 per cent of the trades used on site were from surrounding communities including Albury, Wodonga and the greater Riverina region,” Mr Karkkainen said.

Richard Crookes Constructions has delivered four of Plenary Living’s Single LEAP 2 sites. The others are HMAS Albatross at Nowra (170 units) Blamey Barracks at Kapooka (90 units) and RAAF Base Wagga (50 units) at Wagga Wagga.

Over the coming months Plenary Living will roll out further Single LEAP 2 sites with the final site, 352 units at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, due for completion in February 2014.

Image courtesy of The Border Mail 

Executive Director, Communications
+61 3 8888 7754
+61 418 530 806
chris.whitefield@plenary.com