Townsville confirmed as Australia's northern defence hub with $2.1 billion investmentUpdated

The federal government has confirmed Townsville's designation as Australia's primary northern military hub, committing $2.1 billion in infrastructure investment across RAAF Base Townsville, Lavarack Barracks, and the forward operating base at HMAS Cairns over the next six years in the most significant defence investment in northern Australia since the 1940s.

The investments include new hardened aircraft shelters at RAAF Base Townsville capable of housing the F-35A and F-35B aircraft that will replace the current F/A-18 fleet, a major expansion of Lavarack Barracks to accommodate the increased Army Land Forces rotating through northern training programs, and new maritime patrol infrastructure at the Townsville Port to support increased Navy operations in the Coral Sea and Torres Strait.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the strategic logic of concentrating northern capabilities in Townsville was compelling, given the city's geographic position, its established defence infrastructure, and its civilian service sector capable of supporting a significantly larger military community. "Townsville has been the north's defence city for 80 years. We are now making it the north's defence city for the next 80 years," he said.

The 4,200 new positions include 2,800 permanent military and APS billets and 1,400 roles for civilian contractors and service providers. Townsville mayor Jenny Hill said the investment was the largest single economic event in the city's modern history. She estimated the defence expansion would add approximately $680 million annually to the local economy when fully operational.

Land releases adjacent to Lavarack Barracks are being accelerated by the council to provide housing for incoming defence families, with an estimated 1,800 new residences required over five years.

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