Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions [RNM] is pleased to announce that BADGE Constructions [BADGE] has been appointed as the builder for a $60m state-of-the-art munitions forging facility that will create up to 100 full time jobs in the Fraser Coast region.

BADGE expects approximately 70 per cent of the project’s work will flow to local businesses, reinforcing RNM’s commitment to the region.

Onsite works will begin this week for a forging facility that will produce munitions for supply to the Australian Defence Force and for export to allied nations around the world via Rheinmetall’s Global Supply Chain.

The Federal Government is committing $28.5 million towards the forging facility from its Regional Growth Fund. 

Werner Kraemer, Chairman of Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions, said: “It’s exciting to take the next step in this project with the first site works about to commence. We opened our Project Office last year in Maryborough in preparation for a facility that we hope will have a long-term positive impact on this region. Regional jobs and the building of sovereign capability are extremely important for RNM”.

The forging facility, including an office and warehouse, will be fully operational by 2022 on a four-hectare site. The office will be constructed with Hyne and Son’s timber that has been grown in the local region. Timber has been chosen for the office to reduce the project’s carbon footprint.

Robert Nioa, Managing Director of NIOA and Director of RNM, said the component of work to flow to the local region was an important factor when the successful builder was chosen for the project.

“We underlined the importance of local input for this work when we appointed a local in Jeff Crabtree as our Project Manager. We want to create as many local opportunities as possible and we’re excited to reach this next step,” Mr Nioa said.

Mr Nioa thanked the Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien for his continued support while also acknowledging the contributions of the Queensland State Government through its Jobs and Regional Growth Program and the Fraser Coast Regional Council.

BADGE is a privately-owned Australian company with more than 35 years’ experience and offices on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. 

BADGE Sunshine Coast Manager Andrew Lanskey said the construction firm would bring its commitment to the highest-quality work to this project.

“We are delighted to be appointed to a project that will be so important to its local community,” Mr Lanskey said.

“We estimate that, at the peak of construction, we will have 90 workers on site each day with many coming from the local region.”