The Townsville community will benefit from the Australian Government’s decision to gift a large portion of Defence owned land to the Townsville City Council, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald said today. Prime Minister John Howard today announced in Townsville that the majority of the valuable and historic Jezzine Barracks site will be gifted to the Townsville City Council for community access and heritage protection, in accordance with a Conservation Management Strategy prepared by Defence and a listing on the Queensland Heritage Register.

“Defence will retain Jezzine House as the residence of the Garrison city’s senior military officer and the 31 Royal Queensland Regiment precinct to house an Army museum, which will be relocated from the Fort area,” Senator Macdonald said. “The Australian Government will contribute $10 million to a Community Trust to match a contribution of $10 million from the Townsville City Council. The Trust will oversee the provision of funds and the development of the site in accordance with community wishes.” “The Government is also willing to make a further contribution of up to $10 million, subject to a matching contribution from the Queensland Government. A further $4 million will be spent on the relocation of the Army museum and repair of the Fort area and P1 huts.”

“After strong representations by Member for Herbert, Mr Peter Lindsay MP, the Australian Government has been able to make a decision on the future of Jezzine Barracks which is acceptable to both the Townsville community and Defence,” Senator Macdonald said. “Thanks should go to the people of Townsville who participated in the most extensive community consultation process ever undertaken by the Department of Defence.” “This decision by the Australian Government will mean that the site will be enjoyed by the Townsville community now and into the future, while continuing the military links to Jezzine Barracks and Kissing Point,” he said. “This is a terrific outcome for the people of Townsville and I am delighted for them,” Senator Macdonald said.