Northern Adelaide ready to support Australia's defence priorities

Northern Adelaide ready to support Australia’s defence priorities Develop Edinburgh Defence and Aerospace Precinct

Image source: Australian Government Department of Defence

Northern Adelaide leveraging the power of proximity

The City of Playford has identified the defence sector as an industry that can provide significant economic benefits to its community. There is an opportunity to support the state agenda leveraging the power of proximity to defence industries in the north of Adelaide, as well as harness the potential presented by the AUKUS agreement.

Join forces to expand the Defence and Aerospace Precinct

We are actively pursuing the opportunity to jointly plan and develop the Defence and Aerospace Precinct, north of the RAAF Base Edinburgh. Our aim is to extend the precinct beyond stage one, the Deeper Maintenance and Modification Facility.

Enhancing the existing defence ecosystem with the expansion of the Defence and Aerospace Precinct will allow for overflow of less sensitive activity on the Edinburgh Defence Precinct to relocate nearby, providing flexibility for future growth on the Defence Base. Flow-on benefits include business attraction and private investment to the region, creation of new job opportunities and export prospects.

The location is of national significance and requires collaboration by all levels of government. By leveraging collective expertise and resources we can strengthen the state’s position as a security partner of choice.

Image source: Australian Government Department of Defence

“The location is of national significance and requires collaboration by all levels of government.”

Capitalise on a growing workforce in northern Adelaide

Northern Adelaide (including Playford and Salisbury) is one of the most populous and fastest growing regions in South Australia. With a diverse cultural mix, growth has been driven by popularity with overseas migrants, as well as affordability for first home buyers, families and investors.

Playford has historically demonstrated that it has a capable, experienced and willing workforce.

As the economic centre of the state with defence, technology, manufacturing and food industries, the region is well placed to provide a workforce with expertise in a range of industries to meet current and future demands.

250,000 Residents by 2036

291,000 Population growing to

24% have a trade qualification compared to 19% in Greater Adelaide

50% of residents 35 are aged under

Build

South Australia’s talent

The defence sector presents an array of exciting workforce opportunities that require a range of skills and qualifications including engineering, cybersecurity, electronic warfare, manufacturing and logistics. With advancements in technology, emerging geopolitical shifts, and defence initiatives, such as the AUKUS partnership, the demand for talented individuals is higher than ever before.

To seize this opportunity, we need to allocate significant resources and invest in local education and training initiatives in northern Adelaide. It is critical that we have a pool of skilled workers in northern Adelaide that can actively participate and support the growth of these industries. By prioritising industryspecific education and training and upskilling opportunities for local businesses, we can ensure they have the necessary defence-ready capabilities.

“Empowering the residents of the northern suburbs with education, training, and local job opportunities close to home will build an inclusive and equitable economy, expand the talent pool for businesses and secure livelihoods for individuals.”

Strategic advantage: uniting defence

Northern Adelaide has many unique strengths and potential to further grow the state and nation’s defence capability, as well as bolster the local economy and position the City of Playford as a hub for innovation, employment, and technological advancement. A 170 hectare site in the north west of Greater Edinburgh Parks (GEP) has been identified as the potential site to further develop the precinct.

Deeper Maintenance and Modification Facility

The Australian Department of Defence and Renewal SA are developing a Deeper Maintenance and Modification Facility on the northern perimeter of RAAF Base Edinburgh. The facility will accommodate the long-term deeper maintenance and modification of the Defence Force’s fleet of P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft and e-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft – enhancing the nation’s sovereign capabilities. This investment provides the opportunity to be a catalyst for the further development of this strategic location.

2 The opportunity

Edinburgh Defence and Aerospace Precinct

The development of this precinct would facilitate the growth of initiatives that support the air and land services located at the RAAF base. It presents an opportunity to foster a cohesive cluster of interconnected industries and their supply chains. Most of the land within the precinct is privately owned.

Expanding the Edinburgh Defence Precinct provides a strategic advantage to SA’s defence capability, enabling:

• Land contiguous to RAAF Base Edinburgh, enabling controlled access to the base and runway

• Job creation in the defence and aerospace sector

• Superior transport connectivity

• Cluster of interconnected industries

• Avoidance of conflict with non-industrial activities, protecting the long-term strategic capabilities of RAAF Base Edinburgh

• Flat and affordable land, enables economies of scale

• 24/7 operation capability

The precinct has ready access to the national highway network, port facilities and the national railway network, emphasising the central logistics role the precinct can play in defence operations. The 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and the Adelaide City Deal recognise the importance of this locality to support defence activities and ensure the ongoing viability of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct. This wil minimise encroachment on the RAAF Base and creating a stronger defence business environment conducive to further investment attraction.

Existing defence & education precincts

Circular economy precincts

Coastal ecological assets

Infrastructure assets

Current employment lands

– Food production

Current employment lands

Future growth areas

(Not yet zoned)

Renascor Facility

* Distances are

Osborne Naval Shipyard Port & Shipping Precinct val Shipping

OSBORNE 30km

defence industries for economic growth

3 Greater Edinburgh Parks

Greater Edinburgh Parks (GEP), land to the north and west of RAAF Base Edinburgh, includes 95 per cent of future industrial employment land in Greater Adelaide. GEP has been identified in the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide as future employment lands. It is home to significant logistic developments including SCT Intermodal and Vicinity Industrial Park. Planning at both State and Local Government levels recognises GEP as key to expanding SA’s defence capability. Long term development opportunities are available in GEP.

4 Elizabeth CBD

The City of Playford is reshaping the Elizabeth CBD into a thriving retail, business, and entertainment precinct. Revitalising the Elizabeth CBD responds to the needs of our growing community. As our population continues to rapidly increase, so do expectations for access to a versatile precinct that is close to home. Pelligra Group is developing an eight-storey innovation hub along Main North Road. The hub will offer space for entrepreneurial startups, high growth companies and accelerator programs, as well as offer a hospitality venue. The Elizabeth CBD is just a five-minute drive from the RAAF Base Edinburgh and will quickly become a hub for professional companies serving the defence industries that are set to thrive in northern Adelaide.

5 Edinburgh Defence Precinct

The Edinburgh Defence Precinct is a key national defence research and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance hub consisting of RAAF Base Edinburgh, Defence Science and Technology and Edinburgh Parks. It is the largest defence establishment in SA and is undergoing a large-scale transformation with personnel anticipated to reach 10,000 over the next 10 years. It is home to BAE Systems Australia (head office), Lockheed Martin Australia, SAAB Australia (head office), L3 Harris, Northrup Grumman, General Dynamics Land Systems Australia, and Raytheon Australia, supported by a growing number of innovative SMEs.

6 Lionsgate Business Park

Residential growth areas

Future urban renewal

Future residential areas

Major city centres

H

Lyell McEwin Hospital & Playford Health and Wellbeing Precinct Council boundaries Major road Port Wakefield Road North-South Motorway Rail line

Adjacent Edinburgh Defence Precinct, the former General Motors Holden site has been transformed into a state-of-the-art business hub and is fast becoming a key part of the defence ecosystem. The 123-hectare site is a mix of heavily engineered buildings, and quality administration centres. With over 30 businesses housed there including: Levett Engineering, manufacturing over 150 parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Genis Steel, structural steel manufacturer and Sonnen Batteries, manufacturing batteries for use in the home.

Parafield Airport

Salisbury City Centre TAFE

Future ready

City of Playford has undertaken preliminary works to support the further development of the Edinburgh Defence and Aerospace Precinct. This includes:

• Land use policy – developing policy that facilitates desired defence and aerospace development, while imposing limitations on industries that are unrelated

• Infrastructure investigations and planning, including traffic, stormwater and provision of services

• Potable water, recycled water, sewer, telecommunication and electricity supply can be provided to the site through normal augmentation processes with the relevant service providers

Next steps include:

• Development of concept plans over the area

• Design and costing of required road and stormwater upgrades

• Determine mechanism for developer contribution and negotiations with landowners

• Code Amendment

• Community consultation

Industry engagement

Council worked closely with local defence companies to address industry concerns and build collective capability. This resulted in the establishment of the Edinburgh Industry Alliance, which aims to maximise collaboration within the defence sector. The business members are predominantly Playford-based and represent significant capability. With over 1,500 staff collectively this workforce can be drawn upon as required to deliver outcomes for clients. The Alliance can offer total supply chain solutions and provide businesses with a single point of contact that they can work with on large-scale projects.

The business members are as follows:

• Aimpoint

• Biorg

• Century Engineering

• Eptec

• Levett Engineering

• Lionsgate Business Park

• Sonnex

• Williams Engineering

• Xtek

• AML 3D

• Redarc

Image source: Australian Government Department of Defence

Next Steps: Moving forward with purpose

The City of Playford looks forward to partnering with the Federal and State Governments to:

• Jointly plan and develop the expansion of the Edinburgh Defence and Aerospace Precinct

• Strategically acquire land and invest in key infrastructure

• Support the upskilling of local business to have defence-ready capability

• Invest in local training opportunities to ensure we have local skilled workers that can participate and underpin industry growth

• Attract and support business, private investment and tenants in the defence and aerospace sectors to the north of Adelaide

Through formalising partnerships we can take advantage of the opportunities, and realise the exceptional potential for the defence sector, the state and the nation for years to come.

Image source: Australian Government Department of Defence