The first sod has been turned and construction has begun on the $367 million redevelopment project – under Stage 3A of the upgrade – of Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling naval base.
For nearly 40 year, the naval base on Garden Island has been home to the Royal Australian Navy’s primary operational support base to the west coast.
According to Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne, the redevelopment project will help upgrade vital infrastructure on HMAS Stirling, including wharves, power, water and security systems.
“As set out in the Turnbull Government’s 2016 Defence White Paper, the Indian Ocean is of strategic importance to our nation with vital trade and energy routes, and this upgrade will ensure that we have a strategic naval presence in this important maritime domain for decades to come,” Ms Payne said.
This upgrade is expected to create up to 150 construction jobs over the next two and a half years. The Department of Defence has already appointed Doric as the managing contractor for the design, planning and construction of the project. A number of local businesses have also been subcontracted, including Duratech and WA Limestone.
Approximately 19 trade packages are still expected to be awarded over the coming months.
“This project is an excellent example of local businesses benefiting from upgrades to our defence facilities and training areas,” Western Australia Senator Slade Brockman said.
Construction on the HMAS Stirling redevelopment is expected to be completed in early 2020.
Source: Defence Connect, The West Australian and Naval Technology