Publication:Navy Annual 2005/Changing Times for HMAS COONAWARRA
BY COMMANDER MARK HILL, RAN
HMAS Coonawarra (CMDR Mark Hill, RAN) serves one of the busiest Naval ports in Australia and is the focal point of Navy activity in the north of Australia.
In December 2003, Coonawarra's Berrimah centre was disestablished and officially handed over to the Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group (CSIG). The site is now called Defence Establishment - Berrimah. However, HMAS Coonawarra is certainly still alive and running and now functions from its site in Larrakeyah Barracks near the centre of Darwin.
Why the move? Throughout 2002, Coonawarra gradually saw activity at Berrimah decrease, whilst the bustle at the Darwin Naval Base annex, located at Larrakeyah Barracks, increased. This was a result of the Naval Communications Station (NAVCOMSTA) closure, and an increase in the Australian Defence Force's tempo of operations from the waterfront in support of Operations RELEX and CRANBERRY. With the move to Larrakeyah the term 'Darwin Naval Base' became redundant and the site is now known as 'HMAS Coonawarra'.
The shift of focus for Coonawarra has allowed the establishment to concentrate more closely on its core business - the provision of logistics, and maintenance support to the 12 Darwin-based Minor War Vessels (MWV), as well as visiting MWVs and Major Fleet units. By having all key units working together near its primary users, Coonawarra aims to continue providing a high level of service to its customers.
The move was also timely given the advent of the new Armidale Class Patrol Boats. Eight of the new ships will be based in Darwin and the first, HMAS Armidale, was commissioned at her new home at Coonawarra on 24 June 2005. to accommodate the new (and larger) ships, wharves were extended and a new facility will be built to provide working spaces for ship's companies - particularly important noting the alternative crewing arrangements for the Class.
Coonawarra is not focused solely on supporting smaller warships. Darwin also plays host to visitors arriving in more than 100 major warships each year. In addition to the royal Australian Navy ships, Coonawarra has supported visitors from Indonesia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, France, Canada, and the United States. Although this workload has been demanding, Coonawarra's 'service second to None' ethos has ensured its customers sail from Darwin fuelled, victualled, repaired, and prepared to meet their operational requirements. in addition to the more 'routine' ship visits, Coonawarra has also supported fleet concentration periods, sea training, and Exercises TALISMAN SABER and KAKADU.
In tandem with operational support, Coonawarra is also the administrative authority for all 600 Navy personnel in Darwin. This includes those posted to Headquarters Northern Command, Patrol Boat Force Element Group, Fleet intermediate Maintenance Activity, and shoal Bay receiving station. Supporting the dispersed and disparate Navy community is sometimes difficult. Nonetheless the Chaplain, Personnel Office, Medical, Dental, Physical training and Photographic Departments manage to serve 'people in white' from Nhulunbuy to Broome and all points in between.
Coonawarra is very much alive and 'kicking goals' when it comes to serving its customers in the North. In fact, the Establishment is just getting busier as it prepares to support the new and growing fleet of Armidale Class Patrol Boats. Despite the workload, Coonawarra remains a place where work is professionally rewarding - and the tropical sunsets aren't bad either!
