Construction Begins on Major Military Aircraft Hangar in South Australia

General contractor BESIX Watpac has begun construction on the $200-million Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility adjacent to the Royal Australian Air Force Edinburgh base in northern Adelaide, South Australia. The project is one of the largest ever undertaken by Renewal SA, the South Australian Government’s urban development agency, and is a key development in enhancing Australia’s military infrastructure.

The BESIX Watpac team has taken control of the 16-hectare site, where they will build a 2.1-hectare facility specifically designed for the maintenance and modification of 737-sized aircrafts. Construction of the four-bay hangar commenced following a sod-turning and smoking ceremony this fall.

The facility will support the maintenance and modification of military aircrafts for the Commonwealth Department of Defense. It will include aircraft hangars, offices, workshops, storage areas, amenities and plant rooms. The project spans both Renewal SA land and defense-owned land, with a tow-way linking the hangar to defense-operated areas for aircraft access.

The two-year construction phase is expected to create around 450 jobs. Upon completion, Boeing Defence Australia will use the facility to maintain and modify the P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail fleets under their defense contract.