2ENVIRONMENT - Department of Defencedefence.gov.au/environment/_Master/docs/swbta/Defen… · · 2017-07-19Samuel Hill Camp Sandy eek Dome Island Split Island Sandy (Cowan) eek

THE DEFENCEENVIRONMENT2 Authors: Leanne Sommer, Rebecca Worrall, Christine Bell, Peter Krogh

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Akens Island

Leicester Island

SHOALWATER BAY

Bay IslandSwan Island

Sun Island

Clara Island

Osborne Island

Round Rock

Marquis Island

Supply Bay

CAN

OE

Oys

ter

Creek

Ras

pb

erry

Cre

ek

Mooly

Cre

ek

Ross

Creek

Sabina Point

▲PINE MOUNTAIN

▲KRANKEET MOUNTAIN

Boundary Lagoons

Halfway Creek

Tilpal Creek

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MOUNT FITZ

DOUBLE MOUNTAIN

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MOUNT PHIPPS(THE POLYGON)

PYRI PYRI

Wadallah

Creek

Louisa

Creek

EAST

●Camp Growl

●Rifle Range

●Kapyong Dropzone Williamson

Airfield

NO

RTH

SOU

TH

RO

AD

West

Bight

Lemon

Tree

Track

LandsburgTrack

Ten Mile

Creek Track

Seventeen MileGap

Road

NORTH

SOUTH

RO

AD

Stevens Road

Pelican Rock

Edward Island

●Tank Range

Elanora

MontaitThe Glen

Braeside

Wadallah

Lynfield

The Plains

Huttonvale

Goodnoomda

The Polygon

Pine Mountain

Spring Valley

Raspberry Vale

Raspberry Creek

HUTTONVALE SECTOR

RAZORBACK SECTOR

PYRI PYRI SECTOR

ROWES LAGOON SECTOR

BRAESIDE SECTOR

RASPBERRY VALE SECTOR

PINE MOUNTAIN SECTOR

THE PLAINS SECTOR

THE GLEN SECTOR

MT TILPAL SECTOR

0 10 205

Kilometres

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Townshend Island

Raynham Island

STRONG TIDE PASSAGE

Island Head

Entrance Island

●Flinders Watering Gully

PORT CLINTON

WEST WATER

SO

UTH

AR

M

ClintonLow

Lands

Cape Manifold

● The Three Rivers

Five Rocks Beach

Triangular Island

Cape Townshend

Clara Group

PAS

SA

GE

ISLA

ND

HEA

DC

RE

EK

Pearl Bay

Delcomyn Bay

▲MOUNT FLINDERS

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MOUNT WESTALL

NOTCH MOUNTAIN

▲ MOUNT TOWNSHEND

Quoin Island

Freshwater Bay

One Mile Beach

HEAD C

REEK

EAST CREEK

Georges

Creek

▲MOUNT HUMMOCK

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MOUNT GANTER

MOUNT CARROL

MOUNT PARNASSUS

WEST

ROAD

Mountain

Track

DINGO DRIVE

●SeahoundHard

●ManifoldRamp

●Samuel HillCamp

Sandy Creek

Dome Island

Split Island

Sandy (Cowan)

Creek

Wer

ribee

Creek

Georges

Creek

Track

Pinetrees Point

Cape Manifold

▲MOUNTGIBRALTAR

MOUNT SOLITUDE

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Kheiva

Manifold

The Bend

New Kheiva

Brampton Vale

Townshend Island

CLINTON SECTOR

FRESHWATER SECTOR

DISMAL SECTOR

GIBRALTAR SECTOR

TOWNSEND ISLAND SECTOR

MT HUMMOCK SECTOR

MT PARNASSUS SECTOR

CORRIDOR SECTOR

Shoa

lwat

er

Creek

SWBTA boundary

Sectors

Areas above 100m

Roads & tracks

Drainage

▲ Old homestead sites

▲ Old gold mines

LOCALITIES WITHIN SWBTA

The Defence Environment | 7

FIGURE 2.1

8 | The Defence Environment

ENABLING AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE CAPABILITY Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA or the Area) is one of Australia’s prime Australian Defence Force ( ADF) training areas. Defence training areas are predominantly Commonwealth Freehold title, and range from less than 2 000 hectares to 800 000 hectares. At 289 700 hectares, and a further 164 000 hectares covered by the SWBTA Defence Practice Area (DPA), SWBTA is one of the three largest in over 100 training areas nation-wide.

The value of SWBTA to the ADF stems largely from the capacity to conduct military activities involving any of the three Services operating either singularly or jointly, or combined with military forces of other nations. SWBTA’s main training attributes include its capability to support sustained large scale operations; a discrete area of controlled airspace in which Navy, Army and Air Force aircraft can operate; three impact areas for the fi ring, detonation or delivery of most in-Service munitions; areas suitable for tactical amphibious exercises and operations; areas suitable for individual and crew-served weapons training and underwater demolitions training; a designated, permanently cleared parachute drop zone and three airfi elds; a large diversity of terrain; armoured battle run areas, and a modern urban training facility.

Defence training areas are regarded as ‘capability enablers’, as they provide ADF units with venues to train and develop their individual and collective capability in order to defend Australia and its national interests.

SWBTA is arguably more important to ADF training than it was when fi rst acquired by the Australian Army in the 1960s. For many Navy, Army and Air Force units, SWBTA is critical for components of their training. Five such units based in the South Queensland Region, have provided their stories below.


With the advent of the Vietnam War, Australia’s amphibious ability was reviewed, and the acquisition of Shoalwater Bay as a training area provided the opportunity for re-investment in a revived capability. Initially ordered for the Australian Army, the six ‘Balikpapan’ class Heavy Landing Craft (LCH) were commissioned into the RAN commencing with HMAS BALIKPAPAN in September 1974 and fi nishing with HMAS BETANO in February 1974. With the introduction into service of the Heavy Landing Ship (LSH) HMAS TOBRUK in 1981, the RAN formed the First Australian Amphibious Squadron based at HMAS Moreton in Brisbane.

In addition to regular warfare, Australia’s amphibious capacity has proven critical to Operations Other Than War and utilised in roles as diverse as border protection, peace operations and civilian disaster relief. In 2004, within 48 hours of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami striking Banda Aceh in Indonesia, HMAS KANIMBLA set sail with joint forces aboard to provide humanitarian relief. Existing shoreline and port facilities had been destroyed by the tsunami and Navy hydrographers of the Deployable Geospatial Support Team, in combination with an Army Amphibious Beach Team had to fi rst locate suitable sites for landing.

HMAS MANOORA ‘in war and peace’HMAS TOBRUK ‘faithful and strong’HMAS BALIKPAPAN ‘bravely in action’HMAS LABUAN ‘fail not’

Amphibious Operations have been used to place troops onto hostile shores for hundreds of years. In 1066 the Normans sailed 700 ships to put 7 000 men and 2 000 horses onto the shores of England so that Duke William “The Bastard” of Normandy could make his rightful claim to the English throne from the pretender Harold Godwinson. The most famous amphibious operation involving Australians was the ANZAC landings on the beaches of Gallipoli during World War I. Even though the campaign was initially viewed as a military failure, the safe withdrawal of ANZAC troops under the watch of Turkish defenders was considered a signifi cant success. Also during World War I, the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) landed 1 500 Sailors and Soldiers on the island of New Britain at Kabakaul to capture a wireless station in the fi rst stage of the occupation of what was then German New Guinea.

Early experience in World War II lead to the recognition of the need for specialised training in what was termed ‘Combined Operations’ (Navy and Army), and in 1942 this resulted in the establishment of HMAS Assault at Port Stephens in New South Wales with the specifi c task of training for amphibious operations. This establishment trained over 20 000 offi cers and men from Australia and the United States in preparation for ship to shore operations, and provided one of the earliest opportunities for the three services to coordinate training efforts. The benefi ts of this establishment were realised in World War II by a succession of successful amphibious landings conducted by Australian forces in New Guinea, New Britain, the Philippines and Borneo.

Australia’s amphibious capability continued, with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operating six Mark 3 Tank Landing Ships (LST) on loan from the Royal Navy from 1946 to 1955. The Australian Army also operated four Medium Landing Ships (LSM) until 1971. These vessels were used on active service with Australian forces in Vietnam.

AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS AT SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

Landing craft at Sabina Point


AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS AT SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

Army engineers then went ashore with heavy earth moving equipment to start the relief effort. Medical teams both onboard and ashore provided skilled assistance, and helicopters were deployed to fl y many rescue missions. These activities were supported by the presence of HMAS KANIMBLA off shore with its self-contained fuel and cargo facilities, command and control equipment and a complete surgical and primary care health centre. This rapidly executed operation was a complete success, and would have been impossible without the high level of skill and knowledge gained through training and preparation for Amphibious Operations.

The SWBTA is the principle training ground for Amphibious Operations within Australia and its facilities allow the full suite of these types of military missions to be practised in preparation for real world deployments. There are no similar facilities in Australia where full scale amphibious operations can be practised to the level achieved at SWBTA.

All three Australian services can train together in integrated exercises (joint exercises), train with foreign forces (combined exercises) and amphibious assaults, raids, demonstrations and withdrawals (regularly practise) at SWBTA. The greatest complement of amphibious vessels are evident during major exercises such as Talisman Sabre.

Possibly the most impressive of the landing craft are the United States Navy’s Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCACs), which are arguably also the most environmentally benign owing to their hovercraft attributes.

Many lessons have been learned over the years of Amphibious Operations and these are being incorporated into new ‘Canberra’ class Amphibious Assault Ships (LHD) currently under construction for the RAN. These new ships boast improved personnel and vehicle transfer in a variety of sea states due to the presence of a fl ooding well dock and a large multi-spot aviation deck, better defensive protection, and the ability to accommodate the current and future range of vehicles employed by the Australian Army.

The training venue provided by SWBTA, combined with the new amphibious ships and equipment being brought into service, will ensure the professional skills of the Australian Defence Force in Amphibious Operations will continue to be of service to the Commonwealth and our Allies in times of need.

Landing Craft Air Cushoned (LCAC)

Approaching SWBTA


CLEARANCE DIVERS AT TRIANGULAR ISLAND, SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

‘United and undaunted’

Australian clearance divers are the ADF’s specialist divers. Their primary focus is to perform Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), but they are also trained in locating and destroying or recovering underwater ordnance and improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD). They comprise the largest single Defence organisation with a direct interest in the conduct of EOD. This role is conducted at sea in ships, in the oceans (particularly the vulnerable approaches to ports and anchorages), and onshore in port facilities, installations and the littoral environment associated with amphibious operations.

The RAN established its clearance diving branch in 1951. Initially, the branch drew on experiences of the Royal Navy during World War II, which had been responsible for clandestine reconnaissance and obstacle clearance in a maritime environment. In its infancy, the branch also found inspiration in the exploits of many RANR (Reserve) offi cers who served with British forces during World War II. Pioneers in ‘render safe’ and disposal of enemy sea mines and other ordnance, these offi cers were amongst the most decorated of all Australian service personnel in the war. Several of these men continued to serve with the RAN after the war and were directly involved in establishing the clearance diving branch.

Between its inception and the war in Vietnam, the clearance diving branch performed a range of domestic diving and peacetime EOD tasks. In Vietnam, clearance divers served from bases in Vung Tau and Da Nang providing specialist EOD and diving support to the Australian and Allied forces.

In peace and wartime, the clearance diving branch continued to provide support to the RAN’s humanitarian activities. The branch often responded to short notice calls for specialist dive tasks such as deep diving in the high altitude dams of the Snowy River project and body recoveries following air crashes, bridge collapses and other disasters such as Cyclone Tracy.

Much of the early demolitions training focused around ‘render mine safe’ training, but in 1955 the fi rst basic demolitions course was conducted. Theory components were taught at HMAS RUSHCUTTER (and later at HMAS WATSON) in Sydney, whilst the practical took place at Holsworthy Army Base. The underwater component was conducted in Taylor’s Bay, Sydney Harbour. In 1965, all demolitions and EOD practical training was moved to Lithgow at the 223 Supply Company, Marrangaroo. Underwater demolitions training was conducted in Port Stephens at Salamander Bay, but some training was also conducted at Winda Woppa, Broughton Island and Jervis Bay.

In 1977, the fi rst underwater demolitions training was conducted at Triangular Island, SWBTA. The course members were given the privilege of naming the beach they sat on and from that day forward, the front beach has been known as ‘Big Bang Beach’.

Following the 1978 Sydney Hilton hotel bombing, and the establishment of an ADF counter-terrorist (CT) capability, clearance divers were tasked with performing CT duties with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). This was to prove an enduring task, extending over the next 15 years and resulting in over 120 clearance diver sailors and offi cers serving in SASR CT Squadrons.

Navy dive students, Triangular Island

Cameron Mulville



In 1991, with war imminent in the Persian Gulf, a clearance diving team was tasked with support of coalition forces involved in planning for amphibious operations. The United States Navy specifi cally requested Australian clearance divers, recognising them as world leaders in clandestine reconnaissance and clearance operations in a mine-threat environment. Like its predecessor in Vietnam, the clearance diving team deployed to the Gulf war was recognised with a Unit Citation, as well as many individual decorations for conspicuous service.

Clearance diving detachments and individuals have supported almost all post-Gulf War ADF operations including the search for, and destruction of, chemical fi lled ordnance in Iraq, and RAN operations in the Persian Gulf, Somalia and Bougainville. Australian clearance diving teams conducted clandestine reconnaissance and explosive ordnance disposal operations in direct support of Australian led UN Forces in East Timor.

In 1999, the fi rst Mine Hunter Coastal entered service with the RAN. These ships represent a major contribution to the war fi ghting capability of the ADF and incorporate state of the art technology for conducting mine countermeasures operations at sea. Each ship has one Minewarfare Clearance Diving Offi cer (MCDO) and fi ve clearance divers posted as part of the ship’s company. These offi cers may also be posted to any of the other offi cer billets in these ships, including Commanding Offi cer and Executive Offi cer.

Following the terrorist strikes of 11 September 2001, the Australian government moved to establish a second counter-terrorism Tactical Assault Group. This unit mirrors that maintained by the SASR and is part of 4 Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) Commando.

Currently, the clearance diving branch is comprised of around 400 personnel. The headquarters are located at HMAS WATERHEN in Sydney, the RAN Diving School is located at HMAS PENGUIN also in Sydney, with the two Australian Clearance Diving Teams (AUSCDT–One and AUSCDT–Four) based in Sydney and near Perth respectively. Each clearance dive team is a self-contained, highly mobile unit consisting of about 65 personnel. Within each team, there are three distinct elements:• Underwater Battle Damage

Repair (UBDR) – the underwater use of pneumatic and hydraulic tools for the conduct of salvage and emergency repair work;

• Mine Counter-Measures (MCM) – the disposal or disarming of mines and explosive ordnance; and

• Maritime Tactical Operations (MTO) – amphibious reconnaissance, escape and evasion.

All personnel joining the branch, including offi cers, must undergo acceptance testing and complete the arduous requirements of the clearance diving qualifi cation course. The demands placed on potential applicants are probably beyond those seen anywhere else in the ADF outside of the Special Forces. In the present

Navy divers, Triangular Island



Training at Triangular Island allows clearance divers to hone their real-world skills in the only blue-water live demolitions training facility available to them in Australia. Triangular Island provides a realistic training environment, with diverse and diffi cult terrain, where the actual effect and behaviour of demolition charges underwater can be demonstrated. Safety and environmental considerations are paramount to the activities of clearance diver teams. Safe distances, environmental risks, identifi cation of ordnance, boat skills, laying charges, site refurbishment and cleanup, and logistics planning are amongst the core skill sets that are tested. Tidal fl uctuations, currents, wind, erratic weather, natural hazards (sandfl ies, crocodiles, stingrays and sharks) and little or no underwater visibility, combine to test the resolve of divers.

international climate of uncertainty and widespread threat of terrorism, clearance divers are a valuable and extremely fl exible asset for both the ADF and the nation.

Divers operate in teams of fi ve, generally with 15–25 personnel deployed per operation. Clearance divers are widely recognised as ‘jacks of all trades’, requiring a high degree of teamwork, fi tness and technical skill. The teams are widely recognised for their adaptability and improvisation skills enabling them to meet the needs of any situation.

Clearance divers train and operate with equipment ranging from standard SCUBA to Deep Air, closed systems and hard helmets with air lines. Divers learn and rely on manual methods but also incorporate some robotics where the situation allows. Evolving technologies continually increase the complexity of mines, bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), making them increasingly diffi cult and risky to diffuse and dispose. Ongoing training ensures divers are able to respond to evolution in equipment and technology.

Waters surrounding Triangular Island are used for Clearance Diver (CD) and Mine Warfare (MW) training exercises. Training typically involves the search for and location of explosive ordnance, its relocation to a suitable position for detonation, and its proven safe disposal by explosive destruction. There is no ‘standard’ charge weight, explosive type, deployment method or extract position used for CD training, as the charges vary according to the specifi c training tasks to be completed. During CD and MW exercises at Triangular Island, Defence personnel (approximately 30) camp on the island over a two-week period, usually three to four times a year. Although personnel are accommodated in tents, some permanent and semi-permanent infrastructure has been constructed on the island.

Navy diver training, Triangular Island

Clearance divers continue to play an important role in protecting the Australian community from unexploded ordnance. Recently in New South Wales, clearance divers collaborated with civilian and police divers and trawler operators to locate and dispose of old ordnance off Sydney’s Middle Head, and near Port Stephens and Coffs Harbour.

Clearance divers maintain strong ANZAC traditions and march as an Association on ANZAC Day. Many divers stay in the Service for career and lifestyle reasons. When they do leave, few pursue a diving career, such as civilian commercial diving or oil rig work – believing that they have seen the best a diving career can offer in the ADF.


ARMOURED VEHICLES IN SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment ‘forward’

The movie The Lighthorsemen dramatised some of the past exploits of Queensland’s 2nd/14th (2/14) Light Horse Regiment (LHR) (Queensland Mounted Infantry (QMI)). First formed in February 1860 the 2/14 LHR (QMI) is the oldest continually serving unit in the Australian Army and has a proud history behind its name. Signifi cant place names such as Gallipoli, Beersheba and Damascus provoke images of dust, heat, hardship, and certainly in the latter locations, the ever-faithful trooper–horse partnership. These and many other sites including most recently, operations in East Timor and the Middle East, are all tours of duty where the Light Horse Regiments have made a name for themselves, recognised for their courage and bravery in the fi eld.

Today the 2/14 LHR (QMI) is a very different regiment to the romantic vision of the trooper and his steed, but no less effective or committed in their duty. Located at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, Brisbane, the regiment has very different ‘mounts’ to earlier years and instead of participating in the full frontline charge of yesteryear, now conducts cavalry manouvre. To be effective in this role the regiment is equipped with Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs), specifi cally designed to conduct offensive and defensive manoeuvres, reconnaissance and security operations

The new vehicles arrived at the Regiment in 2005 and over the last few years have proved a successful and vital contribution to the Australian Defence Force’s capability. The eight-wheeled light armoured vehicles are designed to conduct cavalry operations over large distances with minimal logistic support – a prime capability for a region such as ours and in recent Australian deployments.

With such a fl exible and versatile platform the ASLAV is easily the most heavily tasked armoured vehicle type within the Australian Army and has been the armoured vehicle of choice for each Australian Army Task Force deployed in recent years.

Because of regular deployment the 2/14 LHR (QMI) need to train regularly to ensure they remain a ‘well-oiled’ unit and can successfully complete the missions they are required to undertake. In the south Queensland region the main training area used by the 2/14 LHR (QMI) for fi eld training exercises is SWBTA.

As a consequence of the continual training requirement, 2/14 LHR (QMI) uses SWBTA at least six times a year in two to three week periods to ensure that skills are at peak performance and continually improving in the event of deployment. As training progresses the size and complexity of the exercises increase. Individual dismounted training (training without vehicles) is completed at Wide Bay Training Area (WBTA).

All the larger more complex activities require the use of SWBTA as it provides the variety of terrains needed to successfully train to Infantry Minor Tactics Skills standard. More complex core training involves cavalry skills (mounted training) and for this the regiment needs to employ the ASLAVs in a larger training area. The regiment participates in various levels of training termed ‘collective training’ where specifi c numbers of ASLAVs are used in different formations dependent on the activity objective. This can vary from individual troop training (six vehicles) through to Squadron level training (26 vehicles) and multiple Squadrons, all participating in conjunction with their support squadrons (the follow-up force).

The use of SWBTA varies, dependent on the objective of the training. The diverse terrain and vegetation at SWBTA provides the forum for a variety of situational exercises necessary to develop the team-work, observation, swift situation analysis skills needed in 2/14 LHR (QMI); and test the unit’s ability to assess situations and act accordingly.

Driver skills are developed both on-road and off-road, with the network of tracks through the SWBTA providing challenges to the learner driver and the unit working together at speed.

The Defence Environment | 15The Defence Environment | 15

2/14 Light Horse Regiment members paradng on Anzac Day


ARMOURED VEHICLES IN SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

Despite its size, SWBTA now offers fewer opportunities for off-road driving than it did in the 1960s and 1970s because of vegetation regrowth. Once open plains are now diffi cult to traverse, making SWBTA less attractive as a training site. To travel at speed, longer lines of sight and more space is required. ASLAVs are not designed to withstand regular quarrels with established trees.

SWBTA offers 2/14 LHR (QMI) the opportunity to live-fi re throughout the Area providing experience in the use of live rounds and developing accuracy and profi ciency. Both battle-run (fi ring while moving through terrain) and static (where the unit remains in a position and fi res into a pre-determined target) live-fi re exercises are conducted. ASLAVs are equipped with either a 25 millimetre chain machine gun or a .50 calibre machine gun, which can be fi red within safety cordons throughout the Area. By comparison, the artillery regiments which use high explosive rounds can only target sites in Mt Hummock and Pyri Pyri Sectors.

Due to its size SWBTA is suitable to conduct joint exercises where all three Australian forces work together. These exercises develop coordination skills allowing the ADF to work as a united and cohesive force when on deployment. These types of exercises are regularly conducted between 2/14 LHR (QMI) and 1st Field Regiment, the Royal Australian Air Force ( F-111 Squadrons), and communications and intelligence elements. Once every two years 2/14 LHR (QMI) participates in the international Exercise TALISMAN SABER where vital experience is gained working with other Allied forces, developing skills in strategic and tactical responses to both confl ict and peace-keeping scenarios.

SWBTA offers an excellent training facility for south Queensland forces — literally in their backyard — offering a diversity of terrain and vegetation, and fl exibility to perform most forms of exercise necessary for continued training. Without this training area in Central Queensland even more time would be spent on the road travelling between alternative training areas in other regions of Australia and even more time would be thus spent away from home. ASLAV in the wet,

Sabina Point


ARTILLERY IN SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

Field artillery fulfi ls this role by destroying or neutralising enemy weapons, by causing casualties to enemy troops and material and, ultimately, by breaking the enemy’s will to fi ght.

Artillery provides valuable fi repower fl exibility to the Brigade and its elements as rapidly as possible. The nature of artillery is such that it is indirect, able to engage and disengage targets at will from a distance, moving fi repower quickly across a battle fi eld without moving the delivery means. Alternatively, the fl exibility of an artillery battery means that it can set up, engage the target, deliver its artillery fi re and move on before the enemy has determined its position.

To be able to maintain the illusion of being everywhere, the regiment must train constantly. SWBTA provides a critical training venue for practising most forms of manoeuvre across a diverse terrain.

The current capability of 1st Field Regiment Artillery consists of 105 millimetre howitzers and larger 155 millimetre M198 howitzer guns that have the ability to fi re over large distances (10 and 30 kilometres respectively). Both are vehicle towed artillery and hence weighty pieces of kit, and need formed roads for movement. A combination of long fi ring distances and easy access points make the Area an ideal training site. The equipment can be deployed off-road but this is only done sparingly.

1st Field Regiment

‘Ubique Quo fas et Gloria Ducunt’ (everywhere where right and glory lead)

As their motto suggests, the role of 1st Field Regiment is to appear as if they are everywhere but never to be found. To develop and maintain this impression requires strong team coordination, manoeuvring skills, fast delivery, superior accuracy and stealth.

Formed in 1914 as the 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade, the Brigade saw action both on the Gallipoli peninsula and in France supporting the attack that broke the Hindenburg Line. Soon after the end of World War I (WWI) the Brigade was disbanded but was re-raised as the 2nd/1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in 1939 in preparation for action in World War II (WWII) where it distinguished itself in North Africa, Greece and New Guinea providing crucial support in numerous battles. At the end of WWII the 2nd/1st Field Regiment was once again disbanded as part of the post-war demobilisation but once again not for long.

The 1st Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery as it is known today was raised on 25 May 1949 at North Head, Sydney and was at that time the only regular artillery regiment in the Australian Army. Since then there have been many changes within the Regiment including several relocations, and a number of overseas deployments to Vietnam where they supported 6th Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) in the Battle of Long Tan, and to East Timor. Since February 1983 the regiment has resided at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Brisbane and now consists of a Headquarters Battery and three fi eld batteries (13 FD BTY, 41 FD BTY, 105 MDM BTY).

The primary mission of 1st Field Regiment is to develop and maintain operational capability at directed readiness levels to support 7th Brigade (7 BDE) operations. Ultimately this means that 1st Field Regiment must provide offensive support to the other arms and Services by establishing such fi re supremacy in the battle area that the enemy can neither interfere with operations nor develop their own effectively.

1st Field Regiment members preparing to fi re


ARTILLERY IN SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

The nature of the terrain and climate is such that there is often a high risk of bogging equipment and causing environmental impacts by taking the heavy vehicles too far off formed roads. The purpose-built gun emplacement at Elanora is a much used alternative where technical skills can be practised on a hardened stand.

When moving into position a unit occupies an area of approximately 200 square metres. Within this space, six guns are mounted in a circular placement. Within that circle the logistical and technical support crews set up for the duration of the operation.

In any particular exercise the unit may be required to practise technical shooting or tactical shooting. Technical shooting requires the unit to consistently practise drills and procedures, and fi ring into target sites established within either Pyri Pyri or Mt Hummock Sectors. Such exercises may not require the full complement of personnel and equipment. Tactical shooting is designed to focus on the process and activity of the unit — its ability to work as a team, to remain undetected, analyse a situation and the needs of those it is supporting and act accordingly. Tactical exercises require the full complement of

equipment and personnel, and employ forward observers often co-located with the forward troops (both infantry and mechanised) to provide logistical intelligence of enemy positions and friendly troop needs.

All these skills are practised in SWBTA under strict controls and procedures. Good soldiering involves the ability to apply practical and logical approaches to the management of units on deployment. Part of this skill set involves the appropriate management of sites used for training. Apart from the obvious environmental impact, leaving areas in a poor state after use provides information that the enemy can use. 1st Field Regiment has developed a series of procedures to ensure when they move on from a placement they leave no trace behind. This means that SWBTA does not become littered with the detritus of exercise activity and any damage from bogging and extracting vehicles is managed and made good prior to the unit leaving the vicinity.

Ultimately the experience that 1st Field Regiment gains from deployments to SWBTA are a critical component in maintaining effective artillery support for both infantry and mechanised units.

Artillery targets at Mt Hummock

1st Field Artillery shoot


ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE AT SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA

After the war the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was established as a separate organisation in 1921, becoming the youngest of the three armed services and yet the second oldest air force in the world. Since the humble beginnings at Point Cook the RAAF served with distinction at every major campaign throughout WWII, and since that time in Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally the RAAF has played a strong role in peace-keeping and humanitarian missions throughout the world including Bougainville, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Solomon Islands and Somalia.

Today, 1 and 6 SQN of 82Wing (82WG) reside at RAAF Amberley in South Queensland and their current mode of transport is the F-111. 1 SQN has been operating the ‘Pig’ as it is affectionately known since 1973 in the low-level strike role. The squadrons practice strike and reconnaissance missions and simulated attacks on land and maritime targets to maintain operational readiness. 6 SQN operates a vital role in conversion training of strike and reconnaissance aircrew to the F-111.

Training exercises are conducted regularly in Australia and overseas in Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States. SWBTA is one of a few areas that offers the F-111 squadrons the opportunity to practice using high explosives.

Training in SWBTA is a complicated logistical management exercise. Training is expensive and the Squadrons use their time in the Area to gain the greatest possible training experience. Exercises are conducted in the Area only once or twice a year, for a fortnight each time. This involves the deployment of the majority of the Squadrons to RAAF Townsville from where the exercise is conducted. Each exercise requires the Squadrons’ full complement of logistical and technical personnel to be present on-ground to ensure the smooth running of each sortie.

82 Wing – F-111 Strike Reconnaissance ‘fi nd and destroy’

Queenslanders of all ages will be familiar with the F-111 aircraft that has graced the skies of the region for the best part of 40 years. It holds a special place in the hearts of many if the numbers attending displays such as Riverfi re in Brisbane are any indication. The rush of an F-111 through the city at such low levels and high speed delivering the afterburn that the aircraft is famous for, should be seen at least once in a lifetime! Perhaps there is also an element of regional pride in the aircraft itself.

Despite its age the beloved F-111 is still viewed by many as the best there is, and to fl y in one is a privilege that few are fortunate enough to experience. The pilots and navigators of 1 and 6 Squadrons (SQNs) are highly skilled. To maintain such high skills requires constant training and practice. Training is paramount as the current 1 and 6 Squadrons have a lively and proud history to uphold.

Australian military aviation can be traced back to a Royal Engineer Balloon Section at the turn of the century, but it was not until 1910 that a plan for an Australian Aviation Corps of the Royal Air Force was submitted to the Military Board for approval. The creation of the Central Flying School was announced on 7 March 1913 with the purchase of 734 acres of grazing land at Point Cook, Victoria. Subsequently the fi rst fl ying training course commenced on 17 August 1914 with a total of four candidates.

With WWI came the development of four Australian Flying Corps (AFC) Squadrons (1, 2, 3 and 4 SQN). The 1 SQN saw action against the Turks and Germans in the Middle East playing a vital supportive role for allied ground troops including Queensland’s own 2/14 Light Horse Regiment. Squadrons 2, 3 and 4 served on the Western Front between September 1917 and November 1918.



This island, along with the small and rocky Raynham Island, is used by both the RAAF and the Navy in joint and individual squadron exercises. Mount Hummock on the mainland provides the third target area, but with a size limit of 500 lb bombs this is a more limiting and less challenging site to test the full complement of Squadron skills. For a mission to Townshend Island, a maximum of eight 500 lb or two 2 000 lb bombs are carried on each plane.

It becomes a demanding two weeks of intense effort where the ground crews work hard to maintain the full complement of aircraft in fi t working order so the objectives of the exercise are achieved.

Over the course of a typical exercise each aircraft runs two missions per day, one during daylight and one at night, with four jets taking part per mission. There are limited areas within SWBTA that the RAAF can use to practice air-to-ground attacks. Townshend Island, 16 kilometres long by 10 kilometres wide, contains the main target site of about 25 hectares in area for the use of high explosives.

Observation tower Townshend island



What is the capability of the F-111?

The F-111 is a supersonic, long-range strike aircraft. It has twin engines with swing wings giving it the capability to take-off and land at low speeds with the wings swept forward, and then fl y at twice the speed of sound with its wings tucked back. It has the ability to fl y very close to the ground at supersonic speeds following the terrain to avoid detection, and can strike day or night in any weather. The targeting system that it carries allows the two-person crew to locate targets at night and in bad weather and the system can provide laser designation for laser-guided weapons providing high accuracy. The terrain-following radar has earned it the nickname of ‘Pig’ – for its ability to hunt at night with its nose in the weeds! Consequently and despite its age, the F-111 remains the fastest and longest ranging combat aircraft in the Asia–Pacifi c region.

Prior to the beginning of an exercise in SWBTA involving F-111s, exercise Notices to Mariners ( NOTMARs) and Notices to Airmen ( NOTAMs) are issued to ensure that mariners intending to use the Area are forewarned of the impending area closure. Procedures laid down in the Maritime and Air Environmental Management Plans and in other RAAF exercise safety and planning documents are followed to ensure no harm is caused to the environment or other users of the area. When an exercise is about to begin a thorough aerial survey of the coastal waters and beaches is conducted to ensure that no mariners or marine mammals are in close proximity. Only when the Area is declared clear will the exercise commence, but during the exercise aircraft crews are expected to remain vigilant. Flights are made over the Area each day to ensure that the safety and environmental conditions remain unchanged.

Such exercises develop strong team alliances in the air and on the ground, both between the individual pilots and Air Combat Offi cer, and between the various technical and logistical teams who work in support. Often exercises are run in conjunction with other Air Force elements and thus coordination between the RAAF and Army or Navy units adds complexity. For this reason 82WG has a coordinator who works closely with the Army and vice versa to ensure that joint exercises run smoothly. As the exercises increase in size the level and complexity of the planning increases, and an intense month of planning is required with United States personnel prior to the joint TALISMAN SABRE exercises.

SWBTA continues to provide a valuable training experience for RAAF pilots and navigators. Its location between Brisbane and Townsville also provides good opportunities for variety in training.


THE MANAGED ENVIRONMENTSWBTA SECTORS

For the purpose of management as a training area, the entirety of SWBTA is divided into 18 ‘sectors’, as listed in the sections below and shown in Figure 2.1. These sectors are generally based on terrain types within the training area and fall into four broad areas:

• The Western Sectors;

• The Central Sectors;

• The Central Eastern Sectors; and

• The East Coast and Islands Sectors.

The Western Sectors

The western part of SWBTA contained some of the better grazing lands prior to purchase of the land by Defence. The western country is mainly low and undulating with vegetation generally dominated by eucalypt and paperbark woodland. These sectors have areas of good quality vegetation which have not been cleared. Soils vary from coarse sands to medium clays, but are usually shallow with silty to sandy surfaces. The area is not particularly well watered, but there are some lagoons and water holes and it is possible that underground water may be available. Being generally drier and more open, these sectors are the favoured area for vehicle mounted and armoured activity.

The Central Sectors

The central sectors of SWBTA include a series of hills and ranges made up by the Normanby, Polygon and Coast Ranges. These ranges run in a mainly northerly direction through most of this area. The terrain is rugged throughout and many slopes are precipitous. The Normanby and Polygon Ranges average around 600 m in height with the highest peak being Double Mountain. Although the Pyri Pyri Sector is a high explosive impact area, it is mostly only used for artillery and small arms practise. The Coast Range is contained in the Razorback, Mt Hummock and Mt Parnassus Sectors and is lower in elevation with ranges to a height of 440 m. The vegetation in the central part

is generally open eucalypt forest, but patches of rainforest occur in mountainous gullies and heath occurs on the tops of ranges. The soils are generally shallow and gravelly in hilly areas and the plains have a shallow loam over heavy clay. The coastal and marine areas of the Huttonvale and Raspberry Vale Sectors are similar to those described below for the eastern sectors.

The Central Eastern Sectors

Lands to the east of the Normanby and Polygon Ranges with a frontage to Shoalwater Bay form the Central Eastern region. Much of the eastern part experiences a higher rainfall and consequently soils are leached and generally infertile. Dense eucalypt forest occurs on slopes and along drainage lines, with paperbark forest in swampy areas, mangroves on saline mud fl ats, beach scrubs in the swales of sand dunes and montane heath on tops of ranges. Riverine rainforest with palms and broadleaf plants occurs in protected locations including creeks, as well as some of the deeper gullies along the ranges. Good natural water sources are available throughout the area. These sectors are mainly used for infantry, vehicle mounted and armoured activity.

The East Coast and Islands Sectors

The East Coast and Islands region are those sectors for which the eastern boundary extends into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Running in a northerly direction through this area is the Peninsula Range, which consists of steep hills and ridges rising to a peak of 550 m at Mt Westall. This coast is characterised by high energy waves and sand beaches broken by rocky headlands covered by hoop pines. Well developed sinkholes occur in parabolic dunes throughout these sectors. To the north is an intricate pattern of tidal mudfl ats and shoals, with several offshore islands, steep rocky reefs, the bays of Port Clinton and Shoalwater, inlets and estuaries of several creeks. The main islands include Townshend, Leicester and Triangular Island, together with a number of smaller islands. In general, the islands


are fl at with low scrub and very little surface water. Akens Island, Pelican Rock and Bay Island are the breeding areas for a number of rare and threatened bird species. All islands in SWBTA are Commonwealth owned and lie within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These sectors are the least used areas for military training.

SWBTA INFRASTRUCTURE

Patterns of Defence activity are closely related to the topography of the Area. One of the largest developments in the Area is Samuel Hill Camp. The Samuel Hill Camp is referred to as a Scale A camp, as it provides limited infrastructure and an array of concrete tent pads upon which Units can pitch canvas tents. This camp is used on average for about eight to ten weeks per year. The camp is divided into two separate areas, each capable of accommodating up to 500 personnel with a short-term surge capacity of 650 personnel. The facilities available in each camp include:

• a food preparation building;• a kitchen/utensil wash up shelter;• an administration building;• two mess tent sites (concrete

fl oor pads only);• four toilet/shower block buildings

with gas hot water;• 44 tent sites (concrete fl oor pads only);• a large gravel car park with servicing

ramp, vehicle loading ramp and concrete walled fuel bund capable of holding a 20 000 litre fuel tank; and

• one helipad.

Further Scale A camps are located at Camp Growl, Williamson and Townshend Island. Except for the Camp Growl camp, the remainder of dedicated camp sites are provided with composting toilet systems and rain water tanks. Homesteads exist at The Glen in the south, Bramptonvale in the east, and Pine Mountain in the north, and are occupied by Defence staff.

Paratroopers on Kapyong Drop Zone


Facilities at Freshwater Beach and Sabina Point are limited to small beach masters’ huts and shipping containers stocked with oil spill response equipment. Large boat ramps are located at Seahound Hard on the South Arm of Port Clinton and Sabina Point, and smaller boat ramps are located at Ross Creek and Manifold.

Airstrips are located at Samuel Hill, The Glen adjacent to the Range Control complex, The Plains in the central area, Williamson in the north and Dugong airfi eld on Townshend Island. A large cleared area has been established for purposes of parachute drops, named Kapyong Drop Zone. A permanent urban operations training facility was established in 2007 on the site of the original Raspberry Creek homestead. Nearby is a second, smaller urban assault training facility.

A marksmanship training range is located in The Glen Sector, and a further fi xed range is under construction in the Pine Mountain Sector to cater for training on Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs).

The internal road system comprises two main roads, the North South Road and the East West Road, running generally north to south and east to west. A number of secondary roads are present throughout the training area. Roads are unsealed, with the main roads constructed to two-lane width. There are several amphibious points of entry and fi ve main road points of entry:

• The Grey Route (Stanage Bay Road);

• The Green Route;

• The Yellow Route;

• The Brown Route; and

• The Blue Route (Byfi eld Yeppoon Road).

Apart from the two main camps, Range Control and three dwellings, vertical construction within the training area is sparse and rudimentary. The training area is fenced where practicable, and has a series of fi rebreaks around the boundary and within the main training area. Townshend Island is used as a live-fi ring impact area and has a basic track system to support

maintenance, a short airfi eld, a barge landing site and an observation tower.

Water use

Potable water in SWBTA is used for domestic functions to provide cooking and ablution facilities for personnel using the camp facilities, for the vehicle wash-down facility along the Seahound Hard Road, and in emergencies for fi re fi ghting. Water is extracted from surface water bodies only, from Sandy Creek for use at Samuel Hill Camp and from Tilpal Creek for use at Camp Growl. Water extraction is monitored and restrictions are applied during drought periods. For example, in 2006 water extraction from Tilpal Creek was halted and extraction from Sandy Creek was capped at 3.5 megalitres (ML) for a major exercise that extended over a 45 day period.

The remainder of potable water use in the Area is sourced from small dams at The Glen and at Bramptonvale homestead, and rainwater tanks at various locations.

The camps use septic toilet systems without soakage pits. Black water from the toilets fi rst passes through a series of large septic tanks. Grey water from the showers and kitchens passes through grease traps before being pumped with the septic tank effl uent into artifi cial wetlands to complete purifi cation. To protect both the wetlands and the process of anaerobic breakdown, no acids, strong alkalis or non-biodegradable cleaning products are used in any of the kitchen or ablution areas in the camps.

The sewage treatment wetlands consist of a series of parallel ponds ending in artifi cial ponds that are mostly dry and retain native vegetation. Each series of ponds is used on a rotational basis. The lower pond areas contain a downstream spillway, but none have ever been observed to overfl ow. The sewage treatment ponds for Samuel Hill Camp are within the Head Creek catchment fl owing north into the lower end of Shoalwater Bay, and those for Camp Growl are contained in the catchment area for Herbert Creek which fl ows into Broadsound.


RANGE MANAGEMENT

Current or past serving members of the ADF are witnesses to the fact that SWBTA is one of the most tightly controlled training environments in the world. Any long-serving member will also confi rm that SWBTA today is a different environment to that fi rst experienced by them in the 1960s or 1970s, both because of changes in Defence vehicles, vessels and equipment, and because of the environment. With the removal of cattle, areas once cleared or partly open are now regrown with forests and woodlands, and only relatively few areas continue to be actively maintained as clearings.

The value of the natural environment at Shoalwater Bay was recognised by Army personnel well before the Area was brought on line as a Defence training area. By 1968 Major Jack Grigan and a tank offi cer colleague had become aware of the need to undertake active management of the Area to avoid the Area becoming ‘similarly bleak’ to the training area at Puckapunyal in Victoria. At the time, Puckapunyal was described as ‘an ecological desert’ owing to rabbits, overgrazing and tank manoeuvres occurring ‘willy nilly’ during exercises (Cosgrove 1996). To this end, an ‘Ecological Management Plan’ was proposed with a simple methodology:

A bit like putting land to fallow…you leave this area to rest for a while…this area might be overworked so you shift and go somewhere else. It is in the Army’s interests. We want it to last into the next century and if we don’t look after it, it won’t last, it’s as simple as that.

From that time until the late 1980s, the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation’s ( CSIRO) Woodland Ecology Unit was engaged to advise the Army on land system management, and particularly fi re management (J Crigan in Cosgrove 1996).

All forces conducting training in the Area must comply with all provisions of the SWBTA Standing Orders. These orders prescribe the minimum safety measures and environmental considerations to be observed by all users of SWBTA. Standing Orders carry the weight of ‘lawful General Orders’ for members of the Australian Defence Force and ‘reasonable directions’ for the Australian Public Service members of Defence. They are used in conjunction with other instructions, training publications and Single Service (Navy, Army or Air Force) orders where applicable. Additional safety measures or environmental restrictions may be placed on any activity if deemed necessary. Activity and access restrictions are placed on users of SWBTA in the fi rst instance through the Restricted Areas Map contained in the Standing Orders. The map identifi es No Go Areas (permanent closures), Temporary Area Closures, Restricted Areas and Conditional Use Areas that are applied in response to identifi ed environmental considerations. In addition to the restrictions placed on exercise activities shown on the Restricted Areas map (Figure 2.2), specifi c access and use restrictions are applied to parts of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. A coastal buffer is established (one kilometre either side of the high water mark) where conditional use only is permitted but precludes certain activities from occurring in recognition of high natural values.

In addition to the suite of orders and restrictions governing environmental performance of military training activities, the fact that no Defence personnel would desire for their enemy to know their location based on evidence that they leave behind contributes to good environmental outcomes. Tactical success depends on the absence of rubbish, any signs of occupation or unfi lled pits that might give away information to the fabricated enemy in a training scenario.

0 5 10 15 20

Kilometres

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Sand dunes

Parthenium area

Flight restrictions

Water supply catchment

Coastline buffer

RESTRICTED ACCESS AREAS IN SWBTA


FIGURE 2.2


SWBTA must be booked in advance for any activity, with details provided including locations required, facilities to be used, types of activities, number of personnel, number and types of vehicles, on-road or off-road training, weapons to be trained on, and ammunition to be used. Small arms fi ring must be carefully assessed for safety and fi re risk. Larger weapons are also assessed for their danger templates for safety and environmental considerations, and are confi ned to Impact Areas and specifi ed targets.

Management of bookings and assessment of danger templates, safety requirements and movements are Range Control functions. The booking process for a training activity or exercise can take weeks to months. The SWBTA Range Control Offi cer is supported by an Assistant Range Control Offi cer, and several Range management staff and two Rangers. The Range Control team consists of both ADF members and Australian Public Servants working for the Defence Support organisation within the Department. Any person traversing the Area must be briefed on current training activities, carry a two-way radio and regularly report their locations to Range Control.

In addition to managing training activities in the Area in accordance with SWBTA Standing Orders, the Range Control team are responsible for planning and implementing annual hazard reduction fi res, liaison with neighbouring landholders, and maintaining facilities and equipment throughout the Area. Range Control staff are trained in land management disciplines and are often the fi rst to identify environmental issues requiring attention within the training area.

Safety in SWBTA

Under the Defence Act 1903 Defence can close air and sea space surrounding SWBTA to ensure safety whilst training activities take place. Restricted air space and waters associated with the SWBTA are marked on all air and marine navigation charts. Notices are issued to

aviators and mariners through Notices to Airmen ( NOTAMs) and Notices to Mariners ( NOTMARs). NOTAMs are issued 28 days in advance of a requirement for air space, and NOTMARs are issued 42 days in advance of a requirement for waters, and are also forwarded to Coast Guards along the Queensland coast. These notices are planned and prepared by Range Control staff.

Boundary signs, Blue route

Range Control building

Ranger at Range Control complex

Inert or practice rockets, shells, bombs and projectiles are permitted to be fi red, dropped and thrown in all non high explosive (HE) impact areas in SWBTA but are largely confi ned to established target sites. Explosive munitions that may result in unexploded projectiles, ammunition or explosives remaining undetected can only be used within HE impact area, and are also mainly concentrated upon established target sites.


Three sectors in SWBTA — Pyri Pyri, Mt Hummock and Townshend Island — are identifi ed for use as HE impact areas. Within these sectors there are a number of specifi c target sites where live fi ring is concentrated. The selection of target sites anywhere in the Area is subject to a range of safety and environmental constraints. For instance, targets may not be:• constructed within 500 m of any

shoreline, tidal creek or mangrove;• within 100 m (500 m for air delivered

munitions) of tracks and roads;• placed against or attached to any tree; or• placed in a position that would cause

unnecessary damage to the environment.The type of munitions used in the Area is variable, but includes all current ADF approved in-service munitions ranging from 5.56 millimetre small arms ammunition up to 2000 lb high explosive bombs dropped from aircraft. Bombing from aircraft is prohibited in the Pyri Pyri Sector. In accordance with Defence policy, munitions containing depleted uranium have never been used in SWBTA.

Environmental management

Warrant Offi cer Bob Richards was the fi rst Range Control Offi cer at SWBTA from 1988, and produced the fi rst SWBTA Standing Orders. Warrant Offi cer Dick Brearley was subsequently posted to the position of Range Control Offi cer in 1990, and reviewed Standing Orders in 1991. It became apparent to him that the information being received for bookings to use SWBTA was insuffi cient to make a robust determination about whether or not activities were appropriate for environmental reasons. In response, he devised an environmental assessment form to be completed by each training unit and returned to Range Control for consideration. This form has evolved since that time to become the backbone of the environmental accountability framework of all Defence undertakings, and a key component of the Defence Environmental Management System nation-wide. This form is now widely referred to as the Environmental Clearance Certifi cate (ECC).

In addition to being issued an ECC, a unit wishing to train at SWBTA will require all their vehicles, plant and equipment to undertake a vehicle hygiene screen prior to entering the Area, to ensure that weeds are not imported from other parts of Queensland and Australia. Units must undertake a ‘march-in’ brief and an inspection by Range Control staff about the locations they will occupy. On completion of their training, they must undergo a ‘march-out’ inspection of their locations to check that all evidence of their use and occupation has been cleared away, refurbished and rubbish removed to one of several waste transfer stations in the Area.

Defence employed a Land Manager at SWBTA from 1993, which converted to an Environment Offi cer position in the mid-1990s. Defence currently employs an Environment Offi cer (Australian Public Service) to support and oversee activities designed to meet Defence’s environmental goals and objectives for SWBTA. The Environment Offi cer is supported by Assistant Environment Offi cers locally, and a Senior Environment Manager with regional responsibilities for the South Queensland Defence region. A further four Environment Offi cers based in the South Queensland Region are also called upon to provide support at SWBTA from time to time. The Estate Policy and Environment Branch of Defence located in Canberra also provides support and assistance in the development of national policy and guidelines on a range of topics. This Branch is also responsible for regular communication with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Defence Environment Offi cers responsible for SWBTA


SWBTA receives an annual land management budget for vegetation management (predominantly weed control, with some revegetation work), feral animal management, fi re management, and environmental monitoring. It is through this work that Defence has accumulated an impressive volume of data on the condition of the Area and the outcomes of active land management.

SWBTA Range Control and Environment teams, together with a technical services team and a business support team report to a Defence Support Manager, based at Rockhampton.

SWBTA Integrated Management System

In 2003 Defence staff began documenting SWBTA procedures in accordance with the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001), following the launch of the Defence Environmental Policy in 2002. The policy states that ‘Defence will be a leader in sustainable environmental management’, and as an immediate

response introduced six pillars of environmental performance – including standardised Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for each Defence site across Australia. See <www.defence.gov.au/environment/> for details. The EMS incorporated the procedures referred to above, along with an Environmental Risk Register, planning documentation, and the Environmental Management Program, the monitoring program, reporting requirements and management review processes for continual improvement.

Environmental Management Group 2005

Area closed for revegetation

Maintaining fi re breaks along SWBTA’s Western boundary


In 2008, the EMS for SWBTA evolved into an Integrated Management System (IMS) progressively incorporating all of the business processes used by Defence Support Group in managing and servicing SWBTA and its users. The vision of the IMS refl ects the words of the sign at the Green Route gate – to ensure SWBTA remains the fi nest training area in the world.

Major Exercises

For larger training activities, usually referred to as exercises, planning conferences are held by the participating Units well in advance of the training event. Major exercises must have an exercise plan and an integral part is the Damage Control, Environment and Heritage Management Plan. Range Control staff and Environment Offi cers attend Planning Conferences to provide advice on the activities that will or will not be permitted, and what safety, security and environmental risks the Units will be required to address. Exercise participants are called upon to contribute to an Environmental Management Group (EMG). The EMG’s role is to provide advice, assess proposed activities and issue ECCs, monitor compliance with environmental protection instructions, investigate and report any environmental incidents, and arrange for remediation of any affected areas at the end of the exercise. These tasks are carried out by Range Control and Environmental staff on a daily basis on the Training Area, but are augmented by the EMG during exercises.

Foreign Forces

Singapore Armed Forces are the most frequent foreign visitors to SWBTA, and exercise every year for a period of up to 45 days. The United States, British, Canadian, Korean and New Zealand Forces are also visitors to SWBTA, with the most regular of these being the United States every two years.

All four United States Services (Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force) are involved in fi eld training exercises alongside the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force to practise a scenario based on a United Nations sanctioned operation to free repressed people, drawing on experiences from current operations. Exercises such as these are referred to as Joint (meaning all three Australian services) and Combined (meaning the combined forces of two nations).

Preparations for foreign force training at SWBTA, or indeed anywhere in Australia are complex and resource-intensive. Several planning conferences are held to establish exactly what the exercise will entail, and to ensure all Australian legislative and military requirements are met. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) processes involve the most disciplined inspection and approvals requirements, including washing down and cleaning of any vehicles, equipment and supplies brought into Australia.

Foreign forces are required to provide technical data of all weapons systems, ammunition types and lasers to be fi red during their activities. This enables a safety assessment and subsequent approvals process to proceed. Foreign forces must also comply with Australian safety requirements for the conduct of range practices.

Contractors and the general public

Contractors to Defence or other users, as well as any Government offi cials, the public and Darumbal Aboriginal people who wish to enter the Area are similarly required to abide by SWBTA Standing Orders, obtain an Environmental Clearance Certifi cate, present their vehicles and equipment for weed hygiene inspections, and receive Range briefi ngs.


THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ( EPBC Act) is the primary environmental legislation applying to Defence. Environment as defi ned in the Act includes the social, cultural, heritage and economic attributes of an environment, as well as the natural and physical attributes. The EPBC Act has both civil and criminal penalties, and requires a demonstration of due diligence for the environment. The EPBC Act applies to all Commonwealth land, and requires the protection and management of the environment and heritage on Commonwealth land. The EPBC Act also applies to all actions by the Commonwealth, meaning all actions by the Commonwealth, its employees, delegates and agents. This applies to all Defence personnel and their actions, anywhere in the world.

Consequently the level of acceptable environmental performance on Commonwealth land or by Commonwealth actions is considered to be much more stringent than for other lands and other actions under the EPBC Act.

The Act also deals with ‘matters of national environmental signifi cance’, which can be categorised as:

• World Heritage properties;

• National and Commonwealth heritage places;

• Wetlands of international importance ( Ramsar wetlands);

• Threatened species and ecological communities;

• Migratory species;

• Commonwealth marine areas; and

• Nuclear actions (including uranium mining).

SWBTA triggers the fi rst fi ve of the above listed categories. Consequently, Defence activities and management of SWBTA are of particular interest to the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), which is responsible for administering the EPBC Act.

Many activities proposed for SWBTA have been referred to the DEWHA for assessment prior to the activities proceeding. With the advent of Guidelines for the Self Assessment of Actions on Commonwealth Land, some activities are now self-assessed by Defence, then referred to DEWHA for consideration. Regardless of whether Defence or DEWHA conducts the assessment of proposed activities, the outcome relies on demonstration of strong environmental controls, monitoring and reporting requirements. Defence and the DEWHA are in regular contact over a range of matters of mutual interest, one of which is the management of activities at SWBTA.

Defence Instruction (General) ADMIN 40-3 Assessment and Approval of Defence Actions reiterates Defence’s obligations to comply with the EPBC Act and provides guidance on requirements relating to the environmental assessment and approval of Defence actions.

Matters of national environmental signifi cance relating to SWBTA are discussed in detail throughout this report, but the formal descriptions of heritage values are detailed in Chapter 3. Management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is discussed further in the next section.

The EBPC Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (the EPBC Regulations) guide the management of Commonwealth Heritage listed places, along with the Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Burra Charter, the Australian Natural Heritage Charter and Ask First: A guide to respecting Indigenous Heritage places and values (NSW Heritage Offi ce).

In 2004 Defence prepared the Defence Heritage Strategy to articulate its commitment to heritage management and to detail how Defence will fulfi l its statutory obligations. Subsequently, Defence prepared the Defence Heritage Toolkit, which provides Defence estate managers with fact sheets, guides and checklists for heritage management.


Ramsar wetlands are protected under the provisions of the EPBC Act such that a person must not take an action that has, will have, or is likely to have, a signifi cant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland, without approval from the Commonwealth Environment Minister. The EPBC Regulations outline the management requirements for Ramsar wetlands including documentation of the ecological character of the site and the development of a management plan. DEWHA, Defence and the Queensland Government are currently in the process of developing the Ecological Character Descriptions (ECDs) for the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area. Upon completion of the ECD process, an up to date Plan of Management can be prepared for the site.

The Marine Parks extend the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, and are designed to allow ‘seamless’ management, reducing any jurisdictional uncertainties through uniform management arrangements (Figure 2.3).

Key legislation that overarches management of the marine parks is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and the Marine Parks Act 2004 (QLD). Both statutes provide for management arrangements including Zoning Plans, which regulate the multiple uses of the marine parks, as well as regulations, plans of management for specifi c purposes, and formal agreements with Aboriginal traditional custodians over resource use. Enforcement of marine park management arrangements is undertaken by a range of Queensland agencies, but primarily Queensland Marine Parks and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol. GBRMPA also has a number of rapid response enforcement vessels to augment scheduled patrols by Queensland agencies.

Defence activities are provided for within marine park management frameworks, and revolve around active partnerships between Defence, GBRMPA and Queensland Marine Parks. Arrangements between Defence and GBRMPA have been documented in an agreement covering activities within the SWBTA DPA.

Other environmental legislation

Queensland statutes dealing with environmental management include the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Fisheries Act 1994, Vegetation Management Act 1999, and the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (QLD), problem introduced plants are declared as Class 1, 2 or 3 pests. Landholders in Queensland must control all class 1 and 2 pests on their land and also class 3 species where their presence may affect an environmentally signifi cant area. Whilst Defence is not bound by State laws, Defence seeks to fulfi l its environmental duty of care responsibilities to the greatest degree possible.

Marine Parks patrol at West Point

MARINE PARKS

Whilst the mainland of SWBTA is Commonwealth freehold along with all islands and rocks within the Defence Practice Area, the marine waters covered by the SWBTA Defence Practice Area are not under the jurisdiction of Defence. These waters are a combination of both State and Commonwealth territorial waters, and are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park ( Commonwealth) and the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park (QLD) respectively.

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Kilometres

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Conservation Park Zone

Marine National Park Zone

Dugong Protection Area

MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS IN SWBTA


FIGURE 2.3


THE COMMONWEALTH COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO SWBTA 1994

A Commission of Inquiry into the Shoalwater Bay Area began in May 1993 and released its recommendations in May 1994. It was established under the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 to investigate proposals for mineral sand exploration and mining in the Area. The list of relevant subject matters that were investigated included: natural and cultural heritage of the Area; a range of uses and activities relating to the resources of the Area; the effects that such uses would have on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; proposed economic developments; and the quality and quantity of information about the Area.

The Commission presented 35 recommendations and a set of detailed fi ndings with respect to the values of the Area and the environmental effects of uses and activities (Appendix 1). The fi rst two recommendations are encapsulating and read:

1. that by reason of the outstanding National Estate [now National and Commonwealth Heritage] and World Heritage values of the Shoalwater Bay Area, in particular its biodiversity and wilderness values and the ecological integrity of the whole Area, including land and sea, the Area be conserved as an area of national, State and regional signifi cance. Future management of permissible uses and activities should be undertaken in such a way as to ensure that these values are not degraded.

2. that conservation use of the Area as a whole – land and sea – be elevated in importance and explicitly recognised as being a concurrent and equally signifi cant use with Defence use of the Area.

The fi ndings from the Inquiry were comprehensive and far-reaching. The heritage values of the Area were found to meet the following criteria:

• a very signifi cant place in the evolution of Australia’s natural history due to the Area’s integrity and diversity of systems;

• very signifi cant for the maintenance of natural processes;

• very signifi cant for its diversity of fl ora, fauna and landscapes;

• signifi cant in the development of Australia’s cultural history;

• very signifi cant as a site of rare and threatened species, uncommon fl oristic associations and landscapes, and for its wilderness qualities;

• very signifi cant as a research and reference site;

• signifi cant for the understanding of the human occupation of Australia;

• very signifi cant in demonstrating the characteristics of the natural environments of which it is representative;

• signifi cant in demonstrating how Aboriginal people used to live;

• very signifi cant for its landscape and aesthetic values; and

• culturally and spiritually very signifi cant to descendants of the original Aboriginal inhabitants of the Area.

The eastern dune fi elds and the coastal zone of the Area were found to be the main focus for signifi cant archaeological sites. These sites may be important in helping to understand the human history of the Central Queensland coast and nearby islands. The Inquiry also determined that the Area has signifi cant historical signifi cance, particularly the places associated with explorers Captain James Cook and Matthew Flinders and sites and features named by them. It was noted that the current condition of these named places was similar to that originally described by the explorers.


William Westall’s 1802 sketch of the view from Mt Westall

Below: the same view in 2008


The Multiple Use concept

Since 1994, the management of SWBTA has been aligned with the fi ndings of the Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry that determined that while Defence use should remain the primary use of the Area, conservation should be a concurrent use and be of equal signifi cance. In effect, SWBTA functions as a ‘dual’ use area.

It is not unusual for large areas of land or water in Australia to have important conservation values but to also be managed for other purposes. Many rangeland areas for instance, are primarily managed for low intensity grazing, but still retain high conservation values. State forests that for many decades were managed for timber production retained high enough conservation values to be worthy of later national park status. Even the management of national parks is often a compromise between conservation and management for other purposes, including tourism and safe visitor access. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is managed for multiple uses and through its zoning, accommodates most human activities excluding the recovery of minerals.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIPThe full extent to which Defence works in collaboration with external agencies and groups to achieve its capability, safety and environmental management objectives for SWBTA is probably only well known to those directly involved.

Senior leadership of the GBRMPA and Defence meet twice a year to discuss strategic environmental matters and share information. Queensland Parks & Wildlife staff and Defence staff are in contact weekly over management activities in the marine parks and on the islands in and around SWBTA. Queensland Parks and Wildlife, Forest Plantations Queensland and Defence staff work collaboratively on issues relating to fi re management, feral animal control and weed control on their mutual boundaries. The relationships between the operational arms of each of these agencies are strong and productive.

Major Defence exercises involve practising incident response to hypothetical marine accidents to test preparedness, response procedures and coordination with Maritime Safety Queensland, GBRMPA and Port Authorities. Planning for each major exercise involves an Environmental Risk Assessment Workshop where representatives from the GBRMPA, Department of Environment Heritage Water and the Arts, EPA, Darumbal Aboriginal people and others assess environmental risks associated with planned activities. These stakeholders are also invited to tour SWBTA during an exercise as part of the exercise visits program, and are taken to various locations including the site of amphibious landings to observe the activities.


Many institutions have undertaken research and monitoring in SWBTA over the years, including several Universities, CSIRO, Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, the Queensland Herbarium and other branches of the Environment Protection Agency (Qld).

At a State level, Defence is represented on the statutory State Land Pest Management Committee in Queensland in recognition of the benefi ts of collaboration and shared intent, and is currently drafting a Memorandum of Understanding regarding management of invasive species in conjunction with Biosecurity Queensland.

In response to recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry 1994 Defence established an advisory committee. The SWBTA Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) has been meeting continuously now for 14 years. The SWBTA EAC has defi ned terms of reference. Members include representatives from:

• Neighbouring landholders

• Fishing interests

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

• Queensland Parks & Wildlife

• Environment Protection Agency

• Darumbal Aboriginal people

• Local Government

• Non-government conservation organisations

• Forestry Plantations Queensland

• Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water

• Central Queensland University.

The SWBTA EAC meets twice a year, and owing to the level of interest, enthusiasm and intellectual discussion evident at these meetings, they often require an entire day. Most meetings are held at the SWBTA Range Control complex, and usually include a tour of some part of the training area before or after the formal meeting. Minutes of each meeting and reports on SWBTA environmental management matters are made available to EAC members. Members report on their management interests, which range from multi-tenure fi re management cooperation, the trialling of new fox baiting techniques, pine wilding policy, and the results of the latest fi sh tag and release data.

A substantial management effort for, and investment in SWBTA is evident. Without the support, collaboration and interest of non-Defence environmental partners at both policy and operational levels, Defence would not be in a position to so confi dently report on the successful management of balancing Defence use and conservation at SWBTA.

SWBTA Environmental Advisory Committee fi eld inspection


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cardno (Qld) Pty Ltd 2005, ‘Capricorn Coast Water Supply Sources Study’, report prepared for Livingstone Shire Council, Queensland, January 2005.

Cosgrove, B 1996, Shoalwater Bay, Settlers in a Queensland Wilderness, Central Queensland University Press, Rockhampton.

Craig LCDR, S 2008, Department of Defence, 2008, RAN Clearance Divers Association, Australian Government, viewed 24 August 2008, <www.rancd-association.com>

Cronin, R 2008, History of Demolitions Training, viewed 21 April 2008, <www.rancd-association.com/>

Department of Defence, 2008, History, Australian Government, viewed 24 August 2008, <www.airforce.gov.au//history/>

Department of Defence, 2008, Projects, LAND 112 - Australian Light Armoured Vehicle, Australian Government, viewed 24 August 2008, <www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsd/land112/land112.cfm>

GBRMPA—see Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1981, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1981, Nomination of the Great Barrier Reef by the Commonwealth of Australia for inclusion on the World Heritage List, UNESCO, 37 pp.

URS 2005, The Effects of Defence Activities on Triangular Island and its Environment, Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, unpublished report prepared by URS Australia Pty Ltd for Department of Defence, Canberra.

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