Local Contractors to Benefit from $42 Million Upgrades at Singleton Army Base

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Local businesses are set to be the big winners when a major upgrade starts next week on the Singleton Army Base.

The 42-million dollars project will see the dated kitchen and dining hall facilities brought up to the 21st century along with the construction of a new workshop. 

In a move that will aid the Hunter economy’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singleton mid-term facility ‘refresh’ will improve amenities for more than 1,000 defence and civilian personnel at the base.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the project to build a new transport workshop and upgrade existing infrastructure would maximise local industry involvement in the Hunter Region.

“Lead contractor, Watpac’s Local Industry Capability Plan will ensure there will be opportunities for local businesses in the Hunter Region to get involved in the project.

“It’s estimated the project will engage more than 650 workers over the two-year construction period, with a daily peak workforce of up to 100.”

Patron Senator for the Hunter and Senator for NSW Hollie Hughes attended a project briefing today.

“It’s going to mean work for a host of local contractors including carpenters, landscapers, glaziers, tilers, concreters, structural steelworkers, joiners, roofers, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and even, demolition experts.

Senator Hughes said the Government supported Watpac’s plan to target 82 per cent of its subcontract packages to Hunter businesses.

Construction is expected to be completed by early 2022.

Image Credit: Asia Pacific Defense Reporter

Australian Defence Force Meets Virtual Reality

BY TYLER FARDELL

Researchers from the University of Newcastle have been awarded a 2.2 million dollar contract to ensure the Hunter branch of the Australian Defence Force is taking the next step.

That next step is virtual reality (VR).

Defence Force Minister Christopher Pyne announced the grants to the University of Newcastle, which will go towards developing a VR program for Defence Force personnel.

The program will see Defence Force recruits experience a range of high-stress simulations, and monitor their heart rate and stress levels.

Associate professor from the University of Newcastle Rohan Walker is working on the program and says it's great to see the university working on such a great program.

"What we're doing here is really taking the best parts of innovative, engaging VR based technologies and combining them with objective assessments of stress to help cadets better control their stress levels", he said.

The simulations won't just be a fire-fight however, it's expected to include high-stress scenarios you might experience in everyday life, including car accidents and responding to incidents.

"It's our hope and the ADF's hope that this program will be embedded within their workforce in a couple of years".

The program is currently in the prototype stage and could be ready as early as next year.

Virtual Reality in the Military
Source; Virtual Reality