Australian government reverses plan to sell historic Defence properties, Digi Mart USA News (Australia): The federal government has backed down on its decision to sell off historic Defence properties, including the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, which together would have raised $3 billion for the Defence Department.
The sale of the heritage properties, including Victoria Barracks sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, drew sharp backlash from Returned and Services League branches and former prime minister Paul Keating when the government announced in February that it planned to fully or partially sell 67 defence sites for an estimated $3 billion, or $1.8 billion after costs.
The Victoria Barracks site in Southbank, across the road from the Shrine of Remembrance, along with Fort Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and the RAAF base in Point Cook, will be spared from the sale. The sites will remain publicly owned, and the government will open them up to public access.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement, “This program creates opportunities to open Defence’s historic sites and buildings to the public, and to commemorate our nation’s history.” Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government could not “afford to be wasting money,” adding that “It is more important now than ever that we have a Defence Force which is focused on keeping Australians safe, and that involves a fit-for-purpose defence estate.”
Marles said, “By moving personnel off these sites, and working to open them up for the public, we are ensuring that the history of Victoria Barracks is one that can be protected and returned to all Australians.” Albanese and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher were scheduled to hold a press conference in Sydney on Sunday afternoon to announce the backtrack and next steps for the 63 other Defence sites that will be divested.
In September, The Age reported that Marles had insisted he would not back down from selling defence properties, labelling one of the locations “the oldest wine cellar in Sydney.” Speaking to reporters at the time, he said, “It matters that we have a government which is willing to make difficult decisions.” He added, “Let’s be clear about Victoria Barracks Sydney.
Most members of the army have never been to Victoria Barracks Sydney. Victoria Barracks Sydney is effectively off limits to the people of Sydney and the people of Australia.”
According to the report, divesting the Victoria Barracks sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade, highlighting the scope for major savings if dozens of other defence sites are also sold as expected.
Construction on Victoria Barracks in Melbourne began in 1856, originally as accommodation for British troops. Finished in 1858, it was used as the headquarters for the Defence Department from 1901 to 1953 and is still used as an administrative centre.
The building has a 56 per cent utilisation rate, meaning it is nearly half-empty most days. Defence Plaza Melbourne in the CBD has a 46 per cent usage rate.
Fort Queenscliff, located on Shortland’s Bluff to defend the Port Phillip entrance on Victoria’s western Bellarine Peninsula, was established in 1860 and used for military purposes until the mid-1940s. It is now used as an administration site and museum, as well as for archiving and historical research.
In March, The Age reported that the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve was falling into disrepair, with residents frustrated over long delays in the restoration of historic structures.
The 112-year-old RAAF air base in Point Cook in Melbourne’s south-west is the first home of the Royal Australian Air Force. It houses national heritage-listed but now-dilapidated World War II aircraft hangars that are fenced off for safety and which the federal government had previously looked to tear down.
The government withdrew those proposals in July last year following a public campaign by the National Trust, according to a February report by The Age.
However, according to the Defence audit report published in February, some of the historic structures “have deteriorated to the point there is no prudent or feasible way to remediate them.” The audit states the hangars are a hazard to worker health and safety. At the time, Defence said it had spent $50 million on upkeep works at Point Cook in the past five years and would need to spend a further $163 million over the next 25 years to maintain building assets.
