A new $365 million managing contractor contract has been awarded to Lendlease Building Contractors for the delivery of the first tranche of works at HMAS Stirling and the Australian Maritime Complex in Western Australia.
Works are set to commence later this year and will support up to 750 construction jobs.
“Major infrastructure projects like these will continue to support our defence and construction industries at a time of great uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Morrison Government has ensured local industry is given maximum opportunity to be involved, with Lendlease committing to an 85 per cent target for local sub-contract work under our Defence Policy for Industry Participation.
“These works are the third package to be delivered under the Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-program, which will total approximately $2.1 billion of new facilities and infrastructure to be delivered across Australia over the next six years,” Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said.
Works at HMAS Stirling will include the delivery of living-in accommodation as well as a specialist training centre where Navy crews are going to be trained in operating and maintaining the new Arafura Class Offshore Petrol Vessels (OPVs).
On the other hand, the Australian Maritime Complex is going to be utilised by the Navy, together with key industry partners, for operational maintenance as well as through-life support of the Arafura Class OPVs.
The first of the Arafura Class OPVs – HMAS Arafura – is going to be based at HMAS Stirling and is planned to begin trials in 2021. Operational employment is anticipated to begin in 2022.
The new facilities are set to support Navy’s new Perth-based vessels as well as the increased number of Navy workforce that live and train at HMAS Stirling.
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Source: Australian Government Department of Defence; WA Today; Australian Defence Magazine