Stanage Bay Road Upgrade: Completed in 2023, a $21.6 million upgrade to Stanage Bay Road has significantly improved accessibility to the SWBTA, benefiting both military and civillian users.
Defence Exercises and Activities: The Livingstone Shire has a decades-long relationship with Australian and international Defence forces, and regularly hosts troops during multi-national exercises in our shire at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
Rockhampton Airport acts as a critical gateway for Defence activities at Shoalwater Bay and accepts international charter flights and military aircraft movements during these exercises.
In 2025 our region proudly hosted South Queensland Warfighter, a major Australian Defence Force exercise involving more than 2,500 soldiers from Australia and allied nations.
Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial, multinational military exercise primarily held in our region. It is the largest Defence activity in Australia and a globally significant operation that has attracted international attention. Last held in July and August 2025, more than 35,000 military personnel from Australia and its partner nations participated in extensive operations across Queensland (including Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area), the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Christmas Island.
