Defence
Client: Department of Defence – JLL
Location: Nationwide
The Department of Defence’s Estate Works Program (EWP) is a national initiative to sustain and upgrade the infrastructure and facilities that underpin Defence operations across Australia. Delivered under the Project Delivery Services (PDS) framework, the program delivers up to $1B of critical capital works projects annually, often in high-security, complex, or remote locations.
With a rolling pipeline of diverse projects, tight timeframes, and variable site conditions, Defence needed a partner who could manage complexity without delay. Each project must be feasible, safe, and aligned with evolving operational requirements, without scope creep or wasted investment.
Lucid was engaged as a national Design Services Consultant through the PDS provider JLL, supporting project delivery under the Estate Works Program. Rather than treating each project as standalone, we took a program-wide approach as part of a team of teams, managing interdependencies, coordinating shared learnings, and building trusted relationships across the Defence estate.
Operating as the design lead, we engaged early, interrogating proposed scopes, completing feasibility assessments, and de-risking delivery through rigorous technical input. Our upfront Return Briefs reduced design-phase risk by validating project scope and budget before commitments are locked in.
By embedding consistency within project teams, we accelerated delivery, maintained quality, and reduced stakeholder fatigue, while ensuring the nuances of each Defence base were understood and addressed.
Lucid’s contribution spans hundreds of projects and over $800 million in construction value. Key elements include:
Australia’s Defence infrastructure doesn’t just support operations; it protects communities and strengthens national security. Lucid’s role in the Estate Works Program helps ensure that these facilities are safe, reliable, and future-ready. Through our program approach and technical clarity, we enable smarter infrastructure decisions, turning complexity into assured outcomes for one of Australia’s most important portfolios.
