Australia: DLT Program to Change Military Logistics
Australia’s 2009 Defence White paper promised a number of programs, including an effort to rationalize the DoD’s storage and distribution network. The White Paper’s target involved consolidating 24 wholesale sites into 7, supported by 7 specialist logistics units, with slimmer overall inventory.
In late 2012, Australia’s government moved to implement an A$ 752 million Defence Logistics Transformation Program (DLTP), consolidating 201 warehouses in 24 locations into 7 primary sites and 9 specialty sites. It’s a major change to an unheralded but fundamental element of military readiness. Secure storage, maintenance facilities, and other infrastructure will be built at:
- Defence National Storage and Distribution Centre: Moorebank, New South Wales
- Joint Logistics Unit (South Queensland): RAAF Base Amberley near Ipswich, Queensland
- Joint Logistics Unit (North Queensland): Lavarack Barracks near Townsville, Queensland
- Joint Logistics Unit (North): Robertson Barracks near Darwin, Northern Territories
- Joint Logistics Unit (South): RAAF Base Edinburgh near Adelaide, South Australia
- Joint Logistics Unit (West): Palmer Barracks and HMAS Stirling, both near Perth, West Australia
- Joint Logistics Unit (Victoria): East Bandiana near Wodonga, Victoria
Contractors aren’t clear yet, but there should be plenty of opportunities for firms around the country.
The Defence National Storage and Distribution Centre should begin construction in 2013, along with JLU North Queensland. Other sites will begin construction in mid-2013, and work is expected to run into 2015. Australia DoD | 2009 Defence White Paper.