Defence, NT government strike deal to house Australian, international military personnel at Darwin's Howard Springs facility
![](http://isnt.so/usbase/images/2023/7/a89f613ad33a9f54dc50308e71b86e9a)
The Northern Territory facility that gained national prominence as the "gold standard" for quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic will be used to house thousands of troops form both Australia and overseas under a new lease agreement struck by the federal and NT governments.
The 3,500 bed former COVID-19 quarantine facility will be used to house thousands of military personnel from Australia and overseas under a new five-year deal between the federal and NT governments.
The first large cohort to be housed at the facility — 1,300 troops from Australia and international partner nations taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre — is due to arrive later this month.