SAS facility upgrade officially opened

The Australian Army’s Special Air Service Regiment has received a long overdue major infrastructure investment with the opening of their new headquarters and operations centre at Campbell Barracks in Perth.

CAPTION: Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Commanding Officer Special Air Service Regiment unveil a plaque marking the official opening of the new facilities at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Perth. Photo by Corporal Nunu Campos.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the new facilities marked the completion of the first phase of a $223.5 million four-year upgrade to the SASR’s home base at Swanbourne.

Minister Payne joined SASR personnel past and present at the new facilities, which includes the new Colonel Leonard Arthur Eyles Operations Precinct, Pilgrims Mess all-ranks dining facility and upgrades to the Trooper Jonathan Church Gymnasium.

“The Campbell Barracks redevelopment is essential to ensuring Australia’s special operations forces are ready to respond to support Australia’s national interests,” Minister Payne said.

“The Special Air Service Regiment has a long and distinguished history and the redevelopment currently underway is essential to ensuring the Regiment can continue to meet its vital security mission in the national interest.

“Australia is facing an increasingly challenging international security environment and the Special Air Service Regiment is an important part of our response to any terrorist or security incident.

“The upgrades are part of the Turnbull Government’s $200 billion investment in Australia’s defence capabilities over the next decade.

When all works are complete in 2019, SASR personnel will have the modern, flexible, purpose-built facilities and infrastructure needed to support the unit’s vital national mission for the next 20 years.

“The Government is focused on providing our special operations personnel with the equipment and facilities they need in order to undertake their vital work,” Minister Payne said.

Campbell Barracks has been the home of the Army’s Special Air Service since its inception in 1957, and the upgrades are the first major redevelopment of the base since it opened six decades ago.

Phase two of the redevelopment is underway and includes new and refurbished facilities for Operational Support Squadron, 152 Signal Squadron, the quartermaster store, and a new security entry point for the base.

These works involve more than 530 tradespeople, 90 per cent of whom are drawn from the local WA community.

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