Joint Operational Command Centre

The Headquarters Joint Operational Command (HQJOC) project is a signature project for the Department of Defence. It is both its first public-private-partnership project and the nerve centre for a new way of doing business, the Joint Operations Command.

GHD’s project management and technical adviser roles have ensured that Defence will be provided with a new facility that meets environmental objectives and is a state-of-the-art command and control centre.

Located near Bungendore, New South Wales, the project has all the construction aspects of a major civil undertaking, including water and sewerage treatment plants, road and rail bridges, stand-alone power generation capability and 280km of data cabling servicing the latest IT systems as part of a high security facility.

The infrastructure capital works cost is approximately AUD$250 million, with an additional AUD$50 million of C4I equipment and systems. The operational phase costs are expected to be around AUD$900 million with a total cost to the Commonwealth of around AUD$1.2 billion.

GHD’s main role on the project is as technical advisor to Defence. This has entailed:

• Review of design documentation for technical and contractual merit
• Coordination of design acceptance within Defence
• Review of operational documentation for technical and contractual merit
• Review of construction activities (workmanship and compliance with standards)
• Coordination and interface with design and construction contractor
• Advice to Defence on contractual issues
• Coordination of and advice regarding contractor claims

The project achieved its first milestone (handover) on time and on budget and GHD’s involvement in achieving that milestone was significant. This was a creditable achievement as the handover date was set years before the project requirements had been fully documented.

GHD’s understanding of Defence requirements (both technical and operational) has ensured that, since it was brought onto the project in February 2007, Defence has received sound advice on many project aspects. This service has allowed the Defence project team to focus on satisfying the requirements of the Defence users.