The Commonwealth will create a Defence-owned precinct at the Henderson Shipyard to service Australia's surface fleet as well as the future nuclear-powered attack submarines.
When it is complete, the precinct will provide depot-level maintenance and a contingency capability for Australia's nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) fleet. It will also sustain vessels based at Fleet Base West and produce ships, commencing with the build of new landing craft for the Australian Army and new general purpose frigates for the Navy.
Defence is investing $127 million over the next three years to study the infrastructure needs of the planned precinct and undertake enabling work. The precinct will include a yet-to-be determined mix of new floating docks, drydocks, and graving docks. Those studies will inform the final configuration, and cost, of the precinct which will be completed over the next two decades.
While many of the planned investments won't even start construction for years, ADM understands that work to extend the current breakwater south past Civmec's facilities will begin relatively soon.
"It is in the national interest that we have this capability and capacity on the west coast. This new infrastructure will play a crucial role in WA’s ability to effectively deliver and/or sustain these large Naval vessels and nuclear-powered submarines," said Civmec's Executive Chairman Jim Fitzgerald.
Aside from extending the breakwater, ADM understands that Defence's next-highest priority is going to market for a nuclear-certified floating drydock. The floating drydock needs to be operational by 2032 to provide a contingency docking facility for Australia's nascent SSN capability.
“The Defence Precinct at Henderson will optimise Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment industry while supporting continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine pathway,” said the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles.