New naval maintenance infrastructure for WA

The federal government has announced the construction of new naval maintenance infrastructure south of Perth to support the Arafura class patrol boats (pictured) now under construction.

Lendlease Building Contractors has been awarded a $365 million managing contract for the first tranche of works at HMAS Stirling and the Australian Maritime Complex.

Lendlease has committed to an 85 per cent target for local sub-contract work under the government’s Defence Policy for Industry Participation.

Defence industry minster Melissa Price said: “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.”

With construction of the first two ships of the Arafura class well advanced in Adelaide, the remaining ships are being built at the Civmec shipyard at Henderson in in WA.

The new facilities will include living-in accommodation, a specialist training centre and facilities for operational maintenance and through-life support of the Arafura Class.

HMAS Arafura is expected to begin operational employment from 2022.

Picture: Lurssen

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