The Australian Army’s new watercraft fleet needs a primary home port that maximises operational readiness, logistical efficiency and strategic reach. Townsville should be that home. While other locations can complement the basing strategy, Townsville’s advantages are unmatched. But a clear investment from the government is needed to establish it as the central hub for the Littoral Lift Group (LLG).
Townsville need not be the only LLG port facility. A case can be made for also using Cairns.
Land 8710—acquisition of medium and heavy landing craft to replace the LCM-8—is the army’s highest priority acquisition programme, but it is under time pressure. The deadline for introduction to service is driving decisions that may sacrifice long-term efficacy for short-term convenience. While Defence often adheres to the adage that ‘the 80 percent solution on time is better than the perfect plan too late’, this does not justify a rushed infrastructure plan that overlooks opportunity costs and risks billions of taxpayer dollars. Defence has an opportunity to leverage the planned expansion of the Port of Townsville to create fit-for-purpose infrastructure that balances readiness and sustainment.
The LLG’s prospective home port locations are generally understood to be Darwin, Brisbane and Cairns, serving the three combat brigades based in Enoggera, Robertson and Townsville. However, a closer examination reveals that these choices, while superficially logical, don’t necessarily align with operational realities.
Darwin looks like a sound choice. It’s the location with the 1st Brigade, a combat formation focused on littoral operations, and the army could use Royal Australian Navy there. An LLG base at Darwin would be highly functional and efficient.
Brisbane is ill-suited for landing craft. While the 7th Brigade is nearby, its rapid response role is better supported by the Royal Australian Air Force’s medium and heavy lift aircraft at Amberley. In crises, the 7th Brigade will deploy by air at high speed. Landing craft are slow and disconnected from this rapid-response requirement. This means that the primary users for Brisbane-based vessels would be thousands of kilometres away from their base in southern Queensland. These vessels will have to transit north frequently, each trip imposing opportunity costs of lost training time, decreased readiness and constant pressure on tight sustainment budgets.
Cairns appears, superficially, to be a logical choice for the 3rd Armoured Amphibious Brigade due to proximity and availability of the base HMAS Cairns. However, this choice would be flawed, akin to a car hire company basing its vehicle fleet hundreds of kilometres from its customers to be close to a preferred mechanic. Cairns’s distance from key army elements increases ownership costs, complicates training schedules and limits operational availability.
Townsville’s port is poised for expansion. The port has historically supported Defence through access agreements, but these agreements grant Defence only limited and non-guaranteed access. Commercial vessels, including cruise ships, also require access to the available berths. With no dedicated, exclusive facilities of its own, Defence risks delays during critical deployments. To address this, direct investment is essential.
The budget for the recent Land 8710 call for tenders, $5 billion to $7 billion, offers ample room for infrastructure upgrades. The last business case for the entire port expansion found the cost would be a fraction of the available budget. And in any case, it need not be solely funded by Defence. Joint funding from other federal departments and the Queensland government can deliver purpose-built berths, suitable not only for the army’s landing craft but also for RAN vessels. These upgrades will also expand the port’s capacity to handle critical minerals, renewable energy infrastructure, liquid fuels and other strategic goods, securing vital sovereign supply chains while boosting Townsville’s economy.
This does not need to be a binary choice between Cairns and Townsville. Cairns can remain a key maintenance hub while Townsville serves as the primary base. This dual-city approach ensures efficient vessel support, reduces operational costs, decreases the timeline for introduction of capability and enables a strong, seamless connection between the LLG and the 3rd Brigade. By strategically distributing basing and maintenance, Defence maximises readiness, reduces initial and ongoing program costs and assures capability availability for government.
Townsville must be designated as the principal and busiest home port for the LLG’s vessels. With investment, Townsville can deliver assured capability, operational efficiency, and economic prosperity while supporting Australia’s defence and national interests. The dual-city solution harnesses the strengths of both Townsville and Cairns, ensuring robust support for the army’s new navy and a resilient foundation for the future.