Babcock’s $31 million HQ readies for AUKUS work

Developer Commercial & General has begun construction of a new $31 million manufacturing, warehouse and office facility in Adelaide for defence contractor Babcock Australasia.

The Torrens Road, Adelaide site will include a 4,000m2 purpose-built manufacturing and maintenance building that will underpin Babcock’s delivery of support to land and naval defence programmes including in-service sustainment for the Collins-class submarine fleet.

The project will also include development of a separate 2,000m2 administrative support building while the remainder of the one hectare site is being kept in readiness for potential expansion to cater for future AUKUS support.

The development incorporates defence security requirements, specialised IT and large-scale logistics capabilities.

Construction was officially launched yesterday by Premier Peter Malinauskas, Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries Susan Close, Commercial & General Executive Chair Jamie McClurg and Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland.

Babock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said the company was in an exciting and sustained phase of growth, having secured three landmark contracts totalling more than $1 billion over the past 12 months, including a multi-million dollar 10-year contract to upgrade the ADF’s Defence High Frequency Communications System.

“This new facility will be a critical enabler of our ability to not only service existing land and naval programmes but to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunities that will be created in South Australia by the AUKUS trilateral partnership.

“It will be home to current and future generations of highly talented skilled individuals and teams, who will get to work on some of our country’s largest and most important defence projects.”

Construction is due to complete in Q3 2024.

The increased size of the new facility will enable Babcock to grow the number of ongoing highly skilled jobs from 65 to more than 100 compared with its current Osborne premises, with roles across engineering, project management, HR, finance and commercial.

In line with Babcock’s Plan Zero 40 roadmap, the facility has been designed to be operationally net zero from the outset through rainwater harvesting, large scale roof top solar, electric plant and equipment and the use of electric fleet vehicles.

The development is being funded through Commercial & General’s latest investment fund, which will retain ownership of the property. Babcock have committed to a long term tenancy agreement.

Malinauskas said the state was preparing for the largest, most complex naval shipbuilding and defence projects in Australia’s history.

Malinauskas said: “Preparing the infrastructure and skills to support this defence capability is critical, and it relies on strong partnerships such as this one between Commercial & General and Babcock Australasia.

“Facilities like this will act as a beacon to young South Australians seeking a career that offers huge opportunities.”

Picture: Babcock Australasia