Plenary completes Single LEAP 2 Defence project on time and on budget
Published 17 March 2014SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES – Plenary Group has kicked off 2014 in fine form with the on time, on budget completion of the $900 million Single Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct Phase 2 (Single LEAP 2) project.
The Single LEAP 2 project was delivered as a public-private partnership between the Plenary Living consortium and the Australian Department of Defence. It involved the finance, design and construction of 3,014 accommodation units and supporting infrastructure at 17 sites across 14 military bases in every Mainland State and Territory.
Plenary Group Director, Ray Wilson, was delighted to mark the successful completion of this complex multi-site, multi-staged infrastructure project for Defence.
“Following what was a two and a half year construction term, it’s fantastic to celebrate the on time and on budget completion of this project,” Mr Wilson said.
“Just last week we transferred into operations our final Single LEAP 2 site: Robertson Barracks Stage 2, in the Northern Territory which saw 352 units constructed over 18 months.”
Plenary Group, through Plenary Asset Management and Compass Group will now operate and maintain the facilities for a term of 30 years.
“We now have a 30-year obligation to ensure these quality accommodation facilities are maintained to a standard befitting of our Australian servicemen and women,” Mr Wilson said.
Mr Wilson said that Plenary’s innovative approach of utilising five regional builders ensured delivery certainty and value for money for the Commonwealth.
“This unique approach enabled us to leverage each builder’s local knowledge and extensive subcontractor network,” Mr Wilson said.
Plenary Living achieved Technical Completion early at four sites, with Defence taking up the option to occupy early at RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia, one of the larger Single LEAP 2 sites.
Mr Wilson said that the risk sharing benefits of the public-private partnership model was suited to a project of this complexity and breadth.
The construction of the Single LEAP 2 facilities created approximately 2,000 full-time equivalent construction jobs. Around 85 per cent of trades used on the 17 sites were local.
About Single LEAP
The Single LEAP 2 project was delivered by the Plenary Living consortium. The consortium members comprise:
- Plenary Group: Project Sponsor, Financial Arranger and Equity Investor
- Built Environs, Pindan, Richard Crookes Constructions, Sitzler, Watpac: Builders
- Compass Group: Facilities Management
The Single LEAP 2 project followed Plenary’s successful delivery of the Single LEAP 1, which saw 1,395 Defence accommodation units delivered as a public-private partnership across three bases in Queensland and New South Wales.
Plenary Living, through Compass Group, is now responsible for the long-term management of more than 4,000 accommodation units across Australia.
Plenary Living employs more than 80 full-time staff in the ongoing operation of its Single LEAP 1 and 2 sites.
The provision of quality single living accommodation at military bases enables Defence to attract, recruit and retain quality young people in the Australian Defence forces.
The multi-site rollout means that Defence personnel moving from base to base will experience a uniformly high standard of well-quipped and comfortable accommodation.
Chris WhitefieldExecutive Director, Communications
+61 3 8888 7754
+61 418 530 806
chris.whitefield@plenary.com