Maryborough munitions plant construction complete

Construction is complete after 15 months on the new Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions artillery shell forging plant at Maryborough in Queensland.

The factory will use state-of-the-art equipment, including a 1200-tonne hot forging press, to produce the world’s most technically advanced 155mm calibre projectiles for Australia and export markets.

BADGE Constructions led the building phase for the $60m project which has had government backing with a $28.5m injection from the federal government’s Regional Growth Fund on top of $7.5m from the Queensland Government’s Regional Jobs and Investment Fund.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce joined Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions representatives for a tour of the plant at the Moonaboola Industrial Estate along with local member, Llew O’Brien.

The administration office and entry foyer to the 7,000sqm facility was constructed using locally grown timber from Maryborough-based Hyne Timber.

When fully operational in 2022 the plant will have the capacity to produce 30,000 shell cases per year with a workforce of up to 100.

NIOA CEO Robert Nioa said the factory would bolster the local economy while delivering true sovereign industrial capability.

Australia currently imports artillery shell cases from overseas for use by the Army in both training and combat.

Munitions and small arms research, design, development and manufacture has been identified as one of the federal government’s top 10 Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities.

Picture: Barnaby Joyce visiting NIOA Munitions

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