The Federal government plans to construct a consolidated defense precinct at Henderson in Western Australia, as part of Australia’s commitment to acquiring and operating nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact. UK and US nuclear-powered submarines will start rotating in WA from 2027. This project, estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars over the next two decades, will not only support the submarine program but also the construction of new landing craft for the Australian Army and 11 general-purpose frigates for the Navy. While initial ships will be purchased overseas, the remaining vessels will be built at Henderson.
The precinct will include a dry dock for submarine maintenance and a floating dock for in-water repairs, aligning with the Western Australian government’s efforts to centralize AUKUS submarine maintenance in the state. A feasibility study for planning and designing the facility will cost $127 million over the next three years.
The project is expected to generate 10,000 new jobs, with a collaboration agreement between the Federal and WA governments overseeing its development. HMAS Stirling will be expanded to accommodate the Submarine Rotational Force-West, with a previous $8 billion investment already allocated to this facility. Defense Minister Richard Marles described the plan as the most significant defense initiative for WA since Federation, while WA Premier Roger Cook hailed it as a momentous development for the state’s defense capabilities.
Despite welcoming the decision to build the defense precinct, the Federal Opposition criticized the level of funding for the feasibility study, deeming it insufficient. The Defense Strategic Review expressed concerns about the shipyard’s sustainability and job retention without government intervention to consolidate its operations.
A report by US project management firm Bechtel estimates the final cost of the precinct to range between $12 billion and $20 billion. The construction of Australia’s future nuclear submarines will take place in South Australia at the Osborne shipyard. Please rewrite this sentence.
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