4.0 Description of the Project - Department of Defence...4.0 Description of the Project Defence seeks to enhance the operational potential of CUTA through its expansion. The Cultana

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Cultana Training Area Expansion - Public Environment Report

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4.0 Description of the Project

Defence seeks to enhance the operational potential of CUTA through its expansion. The Cultana Training Area

Expansion is intended to establish an enhanced, flexible and sustainable training facility that, through its size,

variable terrain, vegetation and physical location will complement Defence’s existing training areas and support

joint enabled training for land and air forces.

The CEA, in conjunction with the existing CUTA, will enable more effective and varied training scenarios including

additional space for the application of live firing templates and a variety of tactical approaches over variable

terrain and vegetation that supports the development of foundation warfighting skills. This will provide for

meaningful ongoing mechanised and motorised training and live fire practice, up to and including Combined Arms

Battle Groups.

The proposed action to provide facilities and supporting infrastructure at the CEA to support enhanced Defence

capabilities includes the following:

- Terrestrial and airspace for the majority of direct, indirect and air delivered weapon systems

- Space for the employment of electronic warfare, countermeasures and C4I systems

- Sustainable force-on-force manoeuvre

- Airspace for the safe employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Information relating to the proposal, including land acquisition, the development of infrastructure to support

training, and the conduct of training activities and associated equipment is described in more detail below. Note

that due to the nature of the land use and the changing requirements associated with Defence training, it is not

possible to map the locations of proposed infrastructure and activities.

4.1 Acquisition and Development

4.1.1 Land Acquisition

The following pastoral leaseholds will be acquired prior to development taking place (see Figure 3):

- Lincoln Park Station, comprising a total land holding of approximately 16,800 ha, and located immediately to

the west of the northern portion of the existing CUTA

- Tregalana Station, comprising a total land holding of approximately 32,800 ha, located to the west of Lincoln

Park Station

- Roopena Station, comprising a total land holding of approximately 62,400 ha, located west of Tregalana

Station and occupying the majority of the CEA

- Katunga Station comprising a total land holding of approximately 37,300 ha, located to the west of Roopena

Station and south of Iron Knob

- Corunna Station, comprising a total land holding of approximately 67,300 ha, located to the north of Katunga

Station and north of Iron Knob

- A portion of Pandurra Station that lies to the south of the Eyre Highway comprising a land holding of

approximately 43,200 ha, located to the north of Roopena Station, will also be acquired. The remainder of

Pandurra, to the north of the Eyre Highway will remain under its current tenure.

4.1.2 Decommissioning Existing Infrastructure

The CEA will be destocked in accordance with current practices in place on the existing CUTA. These practices

were implemented to improve the sustainability of the land for military use. Defence also plans to decommission

all unnecessary water reticulation (including troughs and other stock watering points) and fencing to allow

unimpaired access for Defence activities. Closure of watering points would have the added benefit of discouraging

feral goats and other animals that are able to reach higher population levels than are naturally possible due to the

abundant supply of water. Some watering points will be retained for fire control; however, these will be fenced to

discourage feral animals.

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Similarly, buildings and other structures (e.g. stockyards, shearing sheds etc), that are not required for Defence

use will be demolished and the materials removed from site. Prior to this, a contaminated site investigation and

asbestos survey will be undertaken in accordance with Defence policy.

Existing roads and tracks will be assessed and upgraded or decommissioned and rehabilitated depending on

whether they align with training and / or land management access requirements.

4.1.3 Infrastructure Development

In line with existing Defence infrastructure development practices, infrastructure and fixed facilities will be

developed at CEA to support military training. Examples of infrastructure developments that may be carried out on

the CEA are described below in Table 2. Any infrastructure development would be assessed against the

obligations of the EPBC Act at that time.

It is not possible to precisely determine the infrastructure that might be necessary to support training over the life

of the training area, due to the changing requirements of operational deployment as well as the ongoing

development of equipment and weaponry in the Australian Defence Force inventory. However, training areas

generally have a number of common features that allow training to be conducted safely, effectively and

sustainably. These generally include the following infrastructure and facilities:

- Road infrastructure, for access, management and security.

- Security infrastructure including gates, fencing, signage and sentry boxes.

- ‘Hardening’ (e.g. concrete or packed gravel) high use areas including regularly used creek crossings and

roads as well as camp areas, Forward Arming and Refuelling Points, Forward Operating Bases, workshops

and administration areas.

- A Range Control facility from which to administer the day to day use and management of the area.

- Staging Areas to prepare and assemble vehicles and equipment prior to a training activity and redeployment

at the conclusion of training. Staging areas consist of infrastructure such as hardstands, latrines, waste and

recycling stations and bunded refuelling areas.

- Vehicle washdown facilities (fixed or mobile) to remove weeds and propagates to prevent dispersal between

Defence facilities.

- Camp accommodation to allow large numbers of personnel to stay on site for an extended period.

- Fixed firing ranges, which are purpose designed and constructed target ranges that allow firing of a variety

of weapon systems; either stationary or mobile.

The location of infrastructure is dependent on a variety of factors including access, location of existing services

and proximity to areas that support particular training activities. In addition, the boundaries of the following areas

influence the siting of infrastructure and the use of the training area as a whole:

- Sectors – all training areas are divided into Sectors, usually bounded by a definable man made (e.g. road) or

natural landscape feature. Sectors ensure the safe separation of training for multiple users of the training

area and are also used as an environmental management tool. Sectors can be closed to certain training

activities if rehabilitation is required.

- High Explosive Target Areas are the only areas where targets can be engaged with high explosive. Access

to these areas is restricted and areas incorporate a buffer area, outside of which a projectile is very unlikely

to fall. These areas are likely to comprise less than 1% of the total area of the CEA.

- Weapon template requirements – all weapons have a weapons danger area safety template based on a

number of factors such as maximum range of the projectile, blast and ricochet distances. No part of a

template may fall outside of the training area or on any areas accessible to the public.

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Table 2 Proposed Infrastructure Requirements

Infrastructure requirements for the Cultana Expansion Area

Access

Upgrade or replace training area perimeter fencing (including gates and grids)

and associated signage.

Upgrade selected internal tracks and create hardened tracks where existing

tracks are unavailable for high priority access. Implement drainage control for all

tracks.

Construct crossing points for public roads, rail and pipelines.

Construct hardened creek crossings.

Construct Sentry Boxes at strategic entry points.

Establish High Explosive Target Areas and associated target infrastructure.

Perimeter

Fencing and

Signage

Upgrade fencing in selected areas where there is potential for public access

Areas for upgraded fencing include known tracks, existing gates (used and

disused) and areas close to public access.

Placement of warning signs on fences in accordance with Defence standards.

Internal Existing

Infrastructure

Dismantling existing fencing, close watering points and fence dams.

Upgrade or demolish existing buildings and sheds.

Staging Area

Construct Range Control building.

Develop all-weather hardened parking area suitable for all vehicles including

Armoured Fighting Vehicles.

Construct wash-points for all vehicles types including ‘A’ (armoured fighting

vehicles) and ‘B’ (non-armoured or lightly armoured support vehicles) vehicles,

with suitable sullage and waste disposal systems.

Develop bunded petrol, oil and lubricant storage and refuelling area.

Construct railway siding and loading ramps.

Install / upgrade power and water supply infrastructure.

Develop wastewater treatment plant.

Scale A Camps

Construct vehicle workshops, food preparation building, wash-up buildings, and

messes and accommodation for 1,000 personnel, ablution / showers, storage and

laundries.

Classrooms and lecture rooms.

High Explosive

Target Areas

Delineate High Explosive Target Areas and install target infrastructure.

Ordnance

Storage Facility

Construct facility capable of storing ammunition including High Explosive and

rockets.

Communications Safety, administrative, exercise control and umpire net over entire training area.

Connection to Defence Restricted and Secret Networks.

Land line telephone connections to key buildings and facilities.

Airstrip Construct all-weather airstrip capable of supporting aircraft up to C-17

Globemaster.

Rotary Wing

(helicopter)

facilities

Rotary wing parking areas.

Rotary wing forward arming and refuelling point and explosive ordnance loading

area.

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Infrastructure requirements for the Cultana Expansion Area

Hangar / Storage

Facilities

All weather vehicle / equipment servicing / storage and security, with power,

lighting, exhaust and venting.

Construct associated administration buildings.

Unmanned Aerial

Vehicles

Construct Unmanned Aerial Vehicle airstrip.

Hardstand Areas

Construct hardstand areas for:

- exportable simulation systems (containers)

- surge accommodation / ablutions / messing

- cold storage areas

- field vehicle servicing areas

- vehicle storage.

Administration Construct additional administration buildings (offices, medical facilities, basic

kitchens, storage etc.).

Fixed Firing

Ranges

Sight and develop an Armoured Fighting Vehicle Field Firing Target System

range.

Development of a suite of Category A (small arms) and Category B (High

Explosives) ranges.

Sight and develop a Combined Arms Firing Range.

Urban Operations Construct Urban Operations Training Facility.

Drop Zone Establishment of a drop zone area.

4.2 Training Activities

4.2.1 Range of training activities

Vehicles, equipment and weapons to be used at the proposed CEA are likely to include all of Defence’s current

and future inventory, as well as those permitted to be used on Australian soil (i.e. excluding nuclear, depleted

uranium, biological or chemical weapons). The proposed CEA is intended to contribute to Defence’s training

needs for the next 75 to 100 years or more, therefore some training activities cannot be anticipated.

The range of training activities likely to be conducted in the CEA are described in the remainder of this section

and are based on the knowledge of current, short and medium-term Australian Defence Force capability needs. A

summary of Defence activities likely to be undertaken regularly in the CEA is listed as follows and described in

more detail in Section 4.2:

- Combined arms manoeuvre training (manoeuvring of tracked vehicles including the M1A1 Abrams Main

Battle Tank and M113 AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier and wheeled vehidles including the Australian Light

Armoured Vehicle, and Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle)

- Driver training (wheeled and tracked)

- Dismounted training activities such as Infantry minor tactics

- Nuclear, biological and chemical warfare defensive training – note that this does not involve the use of live

agents or weapons of these natures

- Engineering support operations including earthworks (e.g. tank ditches) and construction and breaching of

obstacles

- Explosive clearing of obstacles including single charges, line charges, rocket projected line charges, mine

detonation and disposal

- Combat Services Support including refuelling, delivery and removal of stores and vehicle maintenance and

repair

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- Live firing of all natures of ammunition, including small arms, pyrotechnics, mortars, anti-armour, field and

medium artillery weapons and air-delivered weapons

- Air defence training using low level anti-aircraft weapons

- Air mobile and airborne operations including air to ground live firing

- Air combat and close air support operations

- Unmanned Aerial System training activities

- Electronic Warfare training activities

- Logistical support for training activities e.g. waste collection, provisioning, accommodation, casualty

evacuation, environmental management.

The principal formation to train at the CEA will be Army’s 1st Brigade which incorporates two battle groups. 9

th

Brigade (Reserve) will also utilise the site for smaller scale and less complex activities.

The indicative size of Army units is shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Army Unit Indicative Sizes

Name No. Personnel No. Sub-Units Officer In Charge*

Brigade 3,000 to 5,000

3 to 6 Regiments /

Battalions

Brigadier

Regiment (Armour, Engineers,

Artillery) / Battalion (Infantry) 300 to 1,000

2 to 6 Squadrons /

Batteries / Companies

Lieutenant Colonel

Squadron (Armour, Engineers) /

Battery (Artillery) / Company

(Infantry)

60 to 250

2 to 9 Troops /

Platoons

Major

Troop (Armour, Engineers, Artillery) /

Platoon (Infantry) 25 to 40

N/A Lieutenant

*Note: Officer In Charge rank may be different in certain circumstances.

4.2.2 Training Intensity

The frequency and scale of these activities have not been determined, as it is dependent on the sustainable

intensity of the activity, available infrastructure, force generation and operational requirements. In recent years

limited mechanised and motorised manoeuvre training, incorporating live fire Main Battle Tank battle runs, have

occurred at the existing CUTA twice annually. The effects on the land have been evaluated before and after each

event, and management practices have been applied, as appropriate, to mitigate further impacts.

Using this approach, the frequency and scale of activities will depend on the ability of the CEA to sustain them, as

determined by environmental monitoring. Regular monitoring will be undertaken at the landscape scale and local

(biodiversity) scale, and the results analysed and reported, to inform the most sustainable location, timing,

frequency and intensity of short and medium term training. This approach is discussed in more detail in

Section 5.9.4.

Large training activities, incorporating up to a battlegroup sized manoeuvre element, are likely to be undertaken

annually at the expanded CUTA. This may be based on the Deployable Battlegroup or Cavalry Battlegroup

elements of 1st Brigade. Activities at the expanded CUTA will be focused on enhancing and maintaining the

capabilities of these groups with the support of RAAF. The deployable battlegroup is a light armoured battlegroup

based on either the 1st Armoured Regiment, the 5

th Battalion or the 7

th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment

(mechanised infantry battalions) on a twelve month rotational basis. In effect, this means that the battlegroup to

be deployed into battle is either ‘tank heavy’ or ‘mechanised infantry heavy’ in alternate years. Personnel,

equipment and support are similar between the two types of battlegroup.

The battlegroups are supported by the full range of Combat Support (artillery, engineers and air to ground

support) and Combat Services Support logistic elements from within 1st Brigade and other elements of the Army.

Battle groups also train with supporting Army elements, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or the Tiger Armed

Reconnaissance Helicopters. A typical battlegroup and its force elements are outlined in Table 4 below. Note that

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battle groups are likely to be configured with the equipment and personnel to achieve set tasks and may differ

substantially to that indicated.

Table 4 Deployable Battlegroup Elements

Equipment / Personnel Number Deployed

Main battle tank – squadron 20

Australian Light Armoured Vehicles – squadron 30

M113 variants – company 40

M198 – battery 6

S-Liner and 60 tonne trailer* 8

Mack truck with trailers* 10

Unimog* 15

Land Rover 110 15

Engineering Plant 15

Personnel 1,000

* These vehicles are currently being replaced with new types or are shortly due for replacement under the Land 121 Project (see

www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsd/land121/index for more information).

The expanded CUTA will also be utilised to support training activities undertaken by the Reserve formation of the

9th

Brigade. The key manoeuvre units of 9th Brigade are the 10

th / 27

th Battalion Royal South Australia Regiment

(Infantry) and the 3rd

/9th

South Australia Mounted Rifles (Cavalry). Reserve units take part in a major Brigade

activity of 14-16 days, several times a year, for promotion or qualification courses or exercises. At its upper limit,

use of the training area by the 9th

Brigade could involve the conduct of company / squadron level training activities

once every two to three months, and battalion / regiment level training activities once every one to two years. The

nature of such training activities would be essentially the same as those described for the 1st Brigade

battlegroups, but without the employment of large numbers of armoured vehicles.

1st Airfield Defence Squadron is a RAAF unit based at Edinburgh in South Australia, and is responsible for the

defence of RAAF airfields against attack from ground based forces. Airfield Defence Squadrons work in close

concert with Army. The organisational structure of 1st Airfield Defence Squadron is broadly similar to that of a

cavalry squadron less the armoured vehicles, and is currently equipped with variants of the Land Rover 110. The

actual level of potential use of the expanded CUTA by 1st Airfield Defence Squadron is not presently known,

however, at its upper limit, use of the training area by 1st Airfield Defence Squadron could involve the conduct of

troop and squadron level training activities once every two to three months, and a major squadron level training

activity each year. The nature of such training activities would be essentially the same as those described in the

preceding paragraphs, less the armoured vehicles. There is also the potential for their employment on Joint and

Combined Training activities. This would be an increase in usage rather than a change to the types of training

activities to be undertaken.

4.2.3 Description of Training Activities

Live Firing

Live firing can include firing of high explosive ordnance, inert or training projectiles from large calibre direct and

indirect weapons systems or individual or crew served small arms weapon systems. Weapon systems may be

man portable or mounted on tripods, vehicles or aircraft. Types of weapons systems and vehicles are described

below in

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Table 5. All live firing must be carried out within the limitations of the weapon danger areas safety template that is

designated for the type of weapon. The safety template incorporates human dispersion angles and ricochet

factors and must fall completely within the boundary of the training area. Live firing is also undertaken in

accordance with Range Standing Orders, range safety doctrine and weapons manuals, and in accordance with

local bushfire restrictions based on the forecast bushfire danger index.

Live firing exercises may be undertaken anywhere within the CEA if non-high explosive ammunition is used,

provided the requirements of safety doctrine and the weapon danger area safety template are met. The use of

ammunition with the potential for producing unexploded ordnance will be fired at targets within designated High

Explosive Target Areas. All activities are pre-planned, reviewed and approved to ensure that safety requirements

are not breached. The spatial limits for live fire activities involving movement are defined by a ‘movement box’

where all vehicle and personnel movements and firing angles are within the safety template. High Explosive

Target Areas are expected to be located at various sites throughout the training area with a focus in the area of

the central spine of hills associated with Mt Whyalla. This area is particularly suitable as it is visible from most

surrounding areas, offers ‘realism’ for the type of topography where targets would be engaged and allows

manoeuvre activities to be rotated in accordance with the sustainable management approach discussed in

Section 5.9.4.

Types of live firing practices expected to be undertaken at the CEA include the following:

- 155mm medium artillery (static)

- M1A1 Abrams MBT 120mm main gun and 12.7mm machine gun and 7.62mm machine gun secondary

armament (moving)

- ASLAV 25mm cannon, 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine guns (moving)

- 81mm mortar (static)

- Small arms ranging from 5.56mm Steyr rifle up to .50 Calibre machine gun (static and moving)

- Anti-armour systems ranging from 66mm M72A6 Light Direct Fire Support weapon to the Javelin Weapon

System (static and moving)

- Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter with Hellfire anti-tank missile, 70mm rocket and 30mm chain gun

(moving)

- CH47 Chinook or S70A9 Blackhawk MAG 58 7.62mm machine gun and M134D 7.62mm Minigun (moving)

- Mk19 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher or its replacement the Grenade Machine Gun (static and moving)

- Close air support from RAAF aircraft including the use of cannon, bombs and rockets of various types and

natures.

Joint and Combined Training

Joint training consists of force elements from two or more Services (Army, Navy, Air Force) operating together

under one commander. When maritime, land and air elements operate together, their unique characteristics and

strengths can combine to achieve improved outcomes compared with single service training. Most joint training

activities conducted outside Australian territory are with other nation’s forces, as part of a multinational operation.

These are termed ‘combined’ when conducted with an ally or allies, or ‘coalition’ when conducted with a group of

nations that are not all allies, but are unified by a common mission.

The activities undertaken during joint training are usually on a much larger scale than a single service exercise

and employ all of the collective training tasks for the respective services. While the expanded CUTA may begin to

host such exercises in association with other training areas, the limitations of Spencer Gulf to facilitate amphibious

and Navy training activities, as well as potential airspace limitations means it is unlikely that training at the

expanded CUTA will exceed the level of activity associated with a major Australian Defence Force exercise.

Combined Arms Training

A combined arms team is a case-by-case mix of combat (e.g. infantry and armoured), combat support (e.g.

artillery and engineers), combat service support (e.g. medics and transport) and command support (e.g. signals)

elements tailored to suit a specific combination of mission, threat and terrain. Each part of the team aims to cover

the vulnerability of one part of the force with the strength of another.

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Combined arms training involves a combination of more than one type of unit and may also include some joint

elements such as RAAF air support. Combined arms training usually forms part of a ‘major’ training activity which

exercises all of the elements and the command and control chain. The activities involved in combined arms

training would include aspects or elements of the majority of the training activities described in this PER.

Manoeuvre Units

Manoeuvre units include infantry, armour and the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter engaging in ‘close

combat’ with support from other units, in particular those that provide offensive support. Manoeuvre associated

with this maximises the use of the terrain to achieve cover from fire and concealment from observation.

Manoeuvre also includes the conduct of defensive activities which may require elements to dig and occupy

trenches or weapon pits. Sites used for defensive training activities are remediated at the conclusion of the

training activity.

Activities undertaken by manoeuvre units include:

- Qualifying for technical proficiency of specific weapons and vehicles, both individually and as a team

- Dismounted infantry firing and moving to engage targets with small arms, grenades and anti-armour rockets

- ‘Battle runs’ involving vehicles and / or aircraft moving and engaging targets within a movement box that

may extend for a number of kilometres

- Mounted or dismounted patrolling of designated areas

- Defensive training activities from either built up or dug in positions.

Training involving the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter also includes the following:

- Flying training

- Reconnaissance and aerial observer training in support of combined arms activities

- Logistic, maintenance and sustainment training included in the establishment, operation and re-deployment

of forward arming and refuelling points and forward operating bases

- Live firing of missiles, cannon and missile counter measures into High Explosive Target Areas.

Offensive Support

Offensive support units use indirect fire weapons, armed aircraft and other equipment to support manoeuvre units.

Mortars and artillery would be the most common offensive support weapons employed in the CEA with air support

employed during major exercises. Activities undertaken for this type of training include:

- Movement of towed or self propelled artillery or mortars to firing positions within the training area

- Live firing of indirect weapon systems at targets located within designated High Explosive Target Areas

- Observation and adjustment of fire from forward observers occupying observation points or in helicopters

logistics training (e.g. re-supply of ammunition).

Combat Service Support

Combat service support encompasses all systems, platforms and personnel that provide logistic and personnel

support and sustainment, and systems to provide combat service support including:

- Command and control

- Administration

- Logistics

- Communications and intelligence

- Resupply, distribution and repair of materiel and equipment

- Support engineering.

Hardstand areas may be required for these activities or they may be conducted at unprepared sites to replicate

battlefield conditions.

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Mobility and Survivability

Mobility and survivability units incorporate a diverse range of capabilities that contribute to understanding and

shaping the physical attributes of the battlespace. These capabilities include:

- Geospatial (Geographic Information Systems) support

- Mobility support, such as rmaintenance or development of oads, bridges and crossings, to enhance

movement

- Counter mobility support, such as the development of ditches and obstacles to restrict or prevent movement

- Survivability support to reduce the effects of hazards, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear

threats (using safe training agents such as wintergreen)

- Sustainability support to enable a force to maintain the necessary level of fighting power through resupply

and provisioning within the battle space.

Mobility and survivability activities for 1st Brigade are primarily undertaken by 1

st Combat Engineer Regiment,

which consists of about 20 light armoured vehicles supported by a range of construction equipment. Army has

other engineer units, but 1st Combat Engineer Regiment has the largest armoured vehicle fleet, therefore for the

purposes of this PER, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment is used to articulate potential impacts.

Activities included in mobility and survivability live and dry training include:

- Breaching natural obstacles such as gaps or creek line crossings involving the construction of temporary

bridges, fascines, entry and exit points and ramps

- The creation of obstacles including anti-tank ditches (around 6 m wide and 2 m to 3 m deep), barbed wire

and concrete structures

- Breaching man-made obstacles (such as road blocks, anti-tank ditches or minefields) using either

mechanical or high explosive means.

Ground-based Air Defence Training

Ground-based air defence uses Army’s weapon systems, processes, procedures and personnel to nullify or

reduce the effectiveness of attack by hostile aerial systems. It involves the employment of dedicated air defence /

anti-air systems, defensive counter-air systems and also the use of fire by non-specialist weapons (all-arms air

defence) at aerial targets.

The Army’s primary ground-based air defence capability is provided by 16th

Air Defence Regiment, which is based

in the Adelaide region and consists of regimental headquarters, a headquarters battery, two light air defence

batteries and a combat service support battery. The current equipment for the 16th

Air Defence Regiment consists

of approximately 24 RBS-70 launch units and approximately 80 light to medium vehicles.

Ground-based air defence training (both live and dry manoeuvre) can occur either as a stand-alone activity, or as

part of combined arms training. The activities involved in manoeuvre training include:

- Occupation, deployment and re-deployment drills at the troop, battery and regimental level

- Logistic resupply training of a deployed troop, battery or regiment

- Live firing of ground-based air defence systems.

Air Mobile and Airborne Training Activities

Air mobile training activities involve inserting troops into an area by air, usually using rotary wing (helicopter)

assets such as the CH47 Chinook or S70A9 Blackhawk helicopters. Airborne training activities achieve the same

objective, except via parachute from fixed wing aircraft such as C-130 Hercules or C-17 Globemaster. These

activities are primarily undertaken as part of major exercises.

Air Combat and Close Air Support

Air combat and close air support involves the provision of RAAF aerial reconnaissance and fire support as part of

the combined arms team. The types and numbers of platforms and the missions to be carried out will depend on

the support required. Aircraft types may include P3C Orion, Hawk and F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, and any

replacement aircraft.

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Unmanned Aircraft System Training Activities

Unmanned aircraft systems, sometimes referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, play an increasingly important

role in modern warfare and are expected to increasingly be used in medium to large-scale training activities. An

unmanned aerial system consists of the aircraft, the control system, control link equipment and logistical support.

For example the RQ-7 Shadow consists of air vehicles, ground control stations, launcher, ground data terminals,

a remote video terminal and support.

Australian unmanned aerial systems currently perform reconnaissance missions only and are restricted to

operating within the boundaries of a Defence Practice Area. The Australian Defence Force uses both Tier 1

(small) unmanned aerial system, such as the hand-launched RQ-11 Raven, and Tier 2 unmanned aerial system

such as the RQ-7 Shadow.

Electronic Warfare and Signals

High level communications capability for a Brigade is provided by a Combat Signals Regiment which consists of a

total of 60 to 80 tracked and wheeled vehicles. Electronic warfare is a specialist activity undertaken by electronic

warfare units, with similar activities and footprint to signals, but with a focus on different effects and outcomes.

Activities of signals and electronic warfare units would involve:

- Establishment of temporary communications infrastructure (e.g. antenna array arrays and satellite uplinks) to

support the command and control of units in the course of training activities

- Establishment of re-transmission sites (generally one vehicle-based team) on high features within the

training area, in order to maintain communications where direct line of sight is masked by terrain.

Driver Training

Individual driver training requires the use of roads and off-road areas by day and night for most vehicles. Training

is conducted to ensure the operator is familiar with the use of the vehicle in a wide variety of challenging driving

conditions, to revise tactical driving skills and practice recovery of stuck, bogged, damaged or disabled vehicles.

Driver training may occur on purpose built areas or suitable locations elsewhere in the expanded CUTA.

Dismounted Training Activities

Dismounted training involves a progression of training without the employment of armoured or utility vehicles and

is undertaken by all units in support of training activities. Dismounted live training incorporates the use of live

ammunition and dismounted dry training involves the use of blank ammunition only.

Activities include the following.

- Individual and collective military skills training by day or night and in all weather, covering skills such as

weapon revision, living in the field, sentry duties, patrolling, defensive routines, operating at night and

navigation.

- Live firing on purpose-built ranges in order to requalify and enhance competency in the use of individual

weapons. To support this requirement, a suite of small arms and high explosive ranges are expected to be

co-located with camp infrastructure (refer Table 2).

Dismounted training is also undertaken by Army Cadets. The training includes basic bush skills, navagation and

other low-impact team leadership activities. The expanded CUTA would provide greater flexibility for undertaking

these activities.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Training

Whilst the Australian Defence Force employs no chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear capability, it must

train to counter a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack or to respond to the presence of chemical,

biological, radiological and nuclear residue on the battlefield. Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear

training involves passive protection, contamination avoidance and mitigation of affects following exposure. No

active or harmful chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear elements are employed during training. Instead,

harmless agents, such as methyl salicylate (synthetic oil wintergreen), that are detectable by chemical, biological,

radiological and nuclear systems are used.

Test, Experimentation and Evaluation Activities

The ADF’s major test, experimentation and evaluation area is located at Woomera, approximately 170 km north of

Pt Augusta. Due to its proximity to Woomera the expanded CUTA is likely to offer opportunities for test,

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experimentation and evaluation activities to be incorporated into training activities on a range of scales. As a

result of the potentially wide variety of activities that might be undertaken by the Defence Science and Technology

Organisation within the expanded CUTA, it is difficult to define precisely the scale, scope and nature of such

activities. However, it is likely that test, experimentation and evaluation usage of the expanded CUTA would fall

inside the footprint of the training activities described above.

Transit Activities

Access to and from the range will be via a combination of road, rail, and air, depending on the origin, type and

size of the force elements being deployed. A variety of access points to the training area will be established along

the Eyre Highway, Lincoln Highway or Whyalla – Iron Knob Road depending on where training activities are

taking place and the number of different users on the training area at the time (refer Table 2).

A rail siding within the CEA is planned to enable the efficient deployment of vehicles, equipment and troops over

long distances (e.g. transit from Darwin). This will reduce, but not totally eliminate, military convoys through Port

Augusta and the surrounding region. Convoys along the Eyre Highway, Lincoln Highway and Whyalla – Iron Knob

Road would still be required in order to move force elements efficiently and enable easy access to different parts

of the training area. This requirement is important to enable the sustainable use of the training area using the ‘rest

and rotate’ principle described in Section 5.9.4.

RAAF Aircraft are expected to participate in larger-scale exercises within the CEA, and are likely to use a number

of military airstrips such as RAAF Edinburgh north of Adelaide and Woomera. An airstrip capable of supporting

the C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules is expected to be built on the CEA. The location of the training area

airstrip will depend on the aircraft, training requirements, terrain and geophysical requirements for airfields and the

location of supporting infrastructure

Rotary wing aircraft will use a number of prepared or temporary sites, depending on the type of training objectives

to be completed.

4.3 Equipment

The main vehicles, aircraft and weapons likely to be used during training in the expanded CUTA are described in

Table 5 below. This is limited to the primary vehicle and weapon platforms. Equipment with the potential for minor

environmental impact only is not described.

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Table 5 Summary of Equipment proposed for use in the CEA

Equipment Description

M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

The M1A1 Main Battle Tank includes a 120 mm

smoothbore main gun, a Nuclear Biological

Chemical overpressure protection system, an

improved armour package and a deep-water

fording kit. It has a weight of 60 to 63.5 t and a

top speed of 67.7 km/hour. Its main armament is

a 120 mm M256 cannon with two 7.62 machine

gun secondary armament and two 8-barrel 66

mm smoke grenade launchers. It has a ground

clearance of 0.42 to 0.47 m and a ground

pressure of 103.4 kPa.

M88A1 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and

Evacuation System

The M88A1 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat

Utility Lift and Evacuation System is a full-tracked

armoured vehicle built on the existing M88A1

chassis and will be the recovery vehicle assigned

to recover Abrams casualties after breakdown or

battle damage. It has a weight of 63.5 tonnes and

a top speed of 40.2 km/hr (27.4 km/hr towing

load). It is armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun

and 2 x 8 barrel 66 mm smoke grenade

launchers. It has a ground clearance of 0.43 m

and a ground pressure of 94.4 kPa.

M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier

The M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier is a

tracked vehicle weighing approximately 12.3

tonnes with .50 CAL and .30 CAL machine guns.

It can carry up to 11 passengers depending on

the internal configuration. Different variants

include mortar, command post and medical

vehicles.

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Australian Light Armoured Vehicle

The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle is an 8 x 8

wheel drive light armoured vehicle designed to

conduct reconnaissance and surveillance

activities over large distances with minimal

logistic support. Its main armament is a 25mm

cannon firing a variety of ammunition natures and

two 7.62 mm machine guns as secondary

armament.

Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle

The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle is a

full-time four-wheel drive vehicle able to

accommodate a range of different mission fit outs

including command posts, engineer vehicles and

infantry vehicles. It is approximately 7 m long and

2.5 m wide with a 0.43 m ground-clearance. It is

powered by a 7.2 L diesel engine and has a

governed top speed of 100 km/hr. It has a weight

of 15 tonnes. It has good mobility over a variety

of terrains.

Mercedes Unimog

The Mercedes Unimog truck is the current

medium sized truck used for moving personnel,

ammunition and supplies. It is powered by a 5.7 L

turbo diesel engine. It weighs 6.8 tonnes unladen

(11 t fully laden) and is 7 m long with a 0.46 m

ground clearance. This vehicle type will be

replaced as part of the Land 121 Project.

Land Rover 110

Land Rover 110 is a Four Wheel Drive powered

by a 3.9 L turbo diesel engine. It is 4 m long with

a 0.22 m ground clearance and can tow up to 4

tonnes. This vehicle type will be replaced as part

of the Land 121 Project.

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Heavy Tank Transporter

The Heavy Tank Transporter is a prime mover

and trailer configuration. The heavy tank

transporter is capable of transporting combat

laden Abrams and the Heavy Equipment

Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation

System on formed roads, with a limited capability

to operate on tracks and move off roads to seek

cover from attack and to negotiate detours. This

vehicle type will be replaced as part of the Land

121 Project.

Truck Tanker Fueler

The refuelling vehicles, known as Truck Tanker

Fueler, have a capacity of approximately 11,000

L. These are used to refuel vehicles and supply

fuelling points at staging areas and Forward

Arming and Refuelling Points. This vehicle type

will be replaced as part of the Land 121 Project.

Earthmoving equipment (excavator shown)

A range of earthmoving equipment is used by

Australian Defence Force engineers for a variety

of combat and non-combat engineering roles.

M198 155 mm Howitzer

The M198 is a towed artillery gun that can fire a

variety of ammunition types including high

explosive, practice, smoke and anti-tank. It has a

bore diameter of 155 mm and weighs 7,415 kg. It

has a maximum effective range of 22.4 km. This

system is due to be replaced by the M777 (see

below).

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M777 155 mm Howitzer

The M777 howitzer is a 155 mm gun and has

been selected as a replacement for the M198 as

part of the Land 17 project and is now entering

service. It is very lightweight for its size (almost

half the weight of the M198). It fires the same

ammunition natures as the M198 with a

maximum effective range of up to 40 km

depending on ammunition types.

Self Propelled Howitzer (K9 Thunder shown)

Phase 2 of the Land 17 project involves the

acquisition of a 155 mm Self Propelled Gun.

There are several options (tracked and wheeled)

under consideration and an acquisition decision

will be made in the near future. Maximum

effective range is expected to be similar or

greater than the M777. Tracked Self Propelled

Guns are similar in footprint to a tank.

FGM-148 Javelin

The Javelin is a fire-and-forget high explosive

anti-tank missile equipped with an imaging infra-

red seeker and a tandem warhead. A precursor

warhead to detonate any explosive armour and a

primary warhead to penetrate any base armour.

The launch system consists of a launch tube

assembly and a command launch unit.

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L16A2 81 mm mortar

The L16A2 81 mm mortar is the Infantry

Battalion’s organic indirect fire weapon. It can fire

high explosive, smoke or illuminating rounds to a

maximum range of 5.5 km.

RBS 70

The RBS 70 (Robotsystem 70) is a short-range,

man-portable, laser-guided surface to air missile

system. The RBS70 is the Australian Defence

Force’s only land based surface to air capability.

84 mm Carl Gustav Recoilles Rifle

The 84mm Carl Gustav is a medium direct fire

support weapon. It can fire a variety of

ammunition natures including high explosives

(dual-purpose and anti-tank), smoke, and

illumination. It can be employed against vehicles

or point targets such as bunkers

Small Arms (Austeyr and F89 Minimi F88 shown)

Small arms are small calibre crew served or

individual weapon systems from 9mm up to

.50 Cal. A variety of small arms are used by the

Australian Defence Force, the most common

being the 5.56mm F88 Austeyr rifle, a semi or

fully automatic rifle. Other commonly used

systems include the 7.62 mm MAG 58 general

purpose machine gun and the .50 Calibre

Browning M2HB-QCB heavy machine gun.

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Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (Eurocopter Tiger)

The Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter provides

both surveillance and significant combat power

as an element of a combined arms team. The

armament of the Armed Reconnaissance

Helicopter includes a 30 mm cannon (range 2

km), 70 mm unguided air-to-ground rockets

(range 6 km) and the AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank

guided missile (range 8 km).

Sikorsky S70 Black Hawk

The Sikorsky S70A9 Blackhawk Helicopter is

primarily used for battlefield troop transportation

and has the capability to lift artillery or stores for

field resupply or casualty evacuation. It carries a

7.62mm Mag 58 door gun for protection.

Multi Role Helicopter 90 (MRH90)

The Multi Role Helicopter 90 (MRH90) is being

developed as a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-

role military helicopter. It is designed to operate a

troop-lift role and will enter service in

approximately 2015. The MRH 90 is armed with

two 7.62mm Mag 58s.

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Boeing CH-47 Chinook

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engine,

tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter with a top

speed of 315 km/h. Its primary roles include troop

movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield

resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of

the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks. The

Chinook has a 7.62 mm minigun and 7.62 mm

Mag 58 gun for protection.

Boeing C-17 Globemaster

Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft operate in an

air logistics support role, for purposes such as

personnel and cargo transport. Expansion to

other roles including air drop and high-

dependency patient Aero-Medical Evacuation will

occur progressively as specialist equipment is

procured, personnel trained and airworthiness

accreditation obtained.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four engine

turboprop transport aircraft capable of using

unprepared runways for take-offs and landings. It

is used extensively for troop movements,

evacuations and cargo transports and is highly

versatile.

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Unmanned Aerial System – RQ-7 Shadow shown

Unmanned Aerial Systems are remotely piloted

aircraft that are becoming more widespread in

use and are able to penetrate areas that may be

too dangerous for piloted craft. As well as the

large Unmanned Aerial Systems shown (AAI RQ-

7 Shadow), micro-unmanned aerial systems that

can be deployed by hand are also used.

BAE Systems Hawke

The BAE Systems Hawk is a single-engine

advanced jet trainer aircraft. It is a two seat

aircraft and can reach Mach .88 in level flight and

Mach 1.15 in a dive. As well as practice

munitions, armaments may include a 30 mm

cannon in a centreline pod and a variety of other

weapons including AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM

Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile

(ASRAAM).

McDonnell Douglas F/A 18

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Classic Hornet is

a twin-engine, multi-mission, tactical aircraft. It

can conduct air-to-air fighter missions and air-to-

ground strike missions. It has a maximum speed

of Mach 1.8 and is armed with a 20 mm cannon

as well as being able to carry a variety of rockets,

missiles and bombs, decoys and

countermeasures. F/A 18 Super Hornets have

recently been acquired as an interim aircraft until

the arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The

Super Hornet features an updated airframe, radar

signature reduction, updated avionics and

improved radar.

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Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II (Joint

Strike Fighter) is currently under development. It

is a single seat, single engine multi-role fighter

aircraft designed to perform ground attack,

reconnaissance and air defence missions with

stealth capability. It is armed with a 25 mm

cannon and can carry a variety of missiles and

bombs.

4.4 Maintenance and Management

Maintenance and management activities will be undertaken throughout the life of the expanded CUTA to ensure

that infrastructure remains serviceable for its expected life and environmental function is not degraded. Day to day

management of the Training Area will be undertaken by range control personnel and a resident caretaker. Duties

will involve regulating and supporting military personnel undertaking training, waste management and disposal,

weed and pest control around infrastructure, and coordinating periodic maintenance including road maintenance,

wider weed management, feral animal control, as well as fence, signage and target maintenance.

Environmental management activities, frequency, timing and responsibility will be specified in the Environmental

Management Plan / Program for the expanded CUTA. This will be commissioned and regulated by a full-time

Environmental Officer for the Site coordinated by the Senior Environment Manager. Environmental management

will include the following activities:

- Slender-billed Thornbill (threatened species) management

- Feral animal management

- Weed management and control

- Fire management

- Groundwater and surface water management

- Heritage management

- Waste management

- Erosion and sediment control

- Rehabilitation, remediation and restoration where required

- Environmental monitoring in accordance with the Sustainability Management and Reporting Plan (refer

Section 5.9.4)

- Establishment of permanent closure areas (e.g. presence of a heritage site or listed threatened species)

where entry is restricted

- Establishment of temporary closure areas where certain activities (e.g. mechanised manoeuvring) are

restricted in accordance with the Sustainability Management and Reporting Plan (refer Section 5.9.4)

- Implementing studies to improve understanding and management of the CEA environment (e.g. in

association with the Middleback Research Station).

Environmental management will be undertaken in accordance with the various management plans described in

Section 5.0

Documents

4.0 Description of the Project - Department of Defence...4.0 Description of the Project Defence seeks to enhance the operational potential of CUTA through its expansion. The Cultana