The Australian government and its Fijian counterparts are working on ways to bring back members of the Australian Defence Force and contractors who were working on the multimillion dollar upgrade of the Black Rock Camp military base, Nadi.
Australian High Commissioner John Feakes said work at the military training camp had slowed down when the global pandemic hit Fiji.
“Work has continued at Black Rock but not at the pace at which it was at pre-COVID because a lot of the contractors and a lot of the Australian Defence Force personnel returned home,” he said.
He said the deadline for the completion of the project could also be affected.
“We are hoping to meet the deadline but it may slip.”
According to the Australian Government, the Black Rock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp redevelopment was a significant project that is due for completion early 2021.
Under the project, Black Rock Camp would receive new fencing, a headquarters building, a front entrance and guard house, a logistics precinct (including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief warehouse), lecture/classroom facilities, sports field, medical facility, living-in accommodation, physical training facilities and a parade ground.
The new facilities would support Fiji’s security and military training requirements and enhance Fiji’s ability to respond to natural disasters and other humanitarian crises in the region.
