With the delivery of this equipment today, it is not the end, there is more partnering that Australia and Fiji will continue to do, and there are more initiatives yet to come.
These were the sentiments shared by Australian Defence Force, Attaché Colonel K Wright as he handed over plant equipment to Republic of Fiji Military Forces Land Force Commander Colonel Onisivoro Covunisaqa at the Engineers Regiment in Nabuni.
Colonel Wright says in the next 2 to 3 months they will see more sheds going up as more engineering equipment arrive.
He says they will have a decent home and will be protected from the elements.
Colonel Covunisaqa adds this was made possible through the Vuvale partnership, a partnership that has benefited both forces immensely.
An Engineers Scoping study was done in 2021 by a team of Australian Defence Forces to identify the relevant equipment to help sustain and maintain the tempo of the work carried out by the Engineers Regiment.
The first 5 pieces of plant equipment were handed over today under Tranche 1 at a total cost of AUD$1.5 million.
This included two 5 ton Dump Trucks with trailers, 2 Skid Steer Loaders, and one 8 ton Excavator.
Tranche 2 plant equipment is expected to arrive in the country later this year which is a total of 10 machines, at a total cost of $2.2 million AUD.
Colonel Wright says in June an element of the RFMF Engineers will be going over to Australia for 3 months to partner with the ADF Engineers.
He says they will be there for standard security training, but also detailed engineering training that will help them for security in the region, and also for humanitarian response.
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