Major milestone reached as BESIX Watpac completes structural steel for key Defence facility

BESIX Watpac Chief Executive Officer Mark Baker joined Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Richard Marles MP; Premier of South Australia, The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP; Treasurer of South Australia, The Hon Stephen Mullighan MP; Federal Labor Member for Spence, Matt Burnell and Renewal SA leaders on site to celebrate the project’s significant progress.

The $200 million DMMF project – a partnership between the Federal and South Australian Governments – will enhance Australia’s sovereign Defence capability. For the first time, the facility will provide onshore infrastructure to support the long-term maintenance and modification of the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of 737-sized aircraft.

As the project’s design and construction contractor, BESIX Watpac commenced site works in August 2024 and remains on-track with the delivery of this critical facility.

BESIX Watpac CEO Mr Baker underscored the company’s expertise and proven track record in delivering complex, high-security projects across Australia.

"We are proud to have delivered more than 50 Defence projects across 30 bases nationwide, contributing around $3 billion in infrastructure to strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability. The DMMF project represents another important investment in our nation's defence infrastructure." Mr Baker said.

“Partnering with Renewal SA for the first time, we are honoured to be working on such a significant Federal and State funded Defence project with our local delivery partners."

BESIX Watpac General Manager South Australia, Al Crosby, highlighted the project's substantial economic benefits for local industry.

“With such a strong pipeline of Defence work for our region, we’re excited to help develop the skills necessary to equip a workforce to deliver it through apprenticeships and traineeships,” Mr Crosby said.

“Additionally, we’ve engaged a number of local schools in work experience and immersion activities, giving students firsthand exposure to careers not only in construction but also within a major Defence project."

The project is also creating opportunities for First Nations and female participation. Currently, over 6.7% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, while the BESIX Watpac project team has achieved 25% female representation.

BESIX Watpac embraces the use of digital technologies to enhance project delivery and uncover value for its partners. On the DMMF project, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is being utilised for clash detection and modelling to allow for accelerated construction and streamlined coordination.

Upon completion, the facility will span 240 metres in length, 60 metres in width, and 25 metres in height, with its four-bay hangar measuring almost 50% longer than Adelaide Oval. The DMMF facility is scheduled for completion in mid-2026, providing critical infrastructure to support the Royal Australian Air Force.