The state’s peak planning body has approved a $28 million wharf extension at Henderson, a project expected to boost Western Australia's bid for increased involvement in submarine maintenance work.
The state’s peak planning body has approved a $28 million wharf extension at Henderson’s Australian Marine Complex (AMC), a project expected to support the state government’s bid to secure the full-cycle docking program.
During a meeting of the WA Planning Commission (WAPC) late yesterday, members approved a 5,900 square metre wharf extension, seabed reclamation, dredging and associated works at Lots 804 and 4552 Quill Way.
The application was spearheaded by Perth-based planning consultancy SITE planning + design, which had been contracted by the developers: the state government’s land development agency DevelopmentWA and AMC Corporation.
The two lots, which are currently leased by defence contractor BAE Systems Australia, are located within the AMC’s fabrication precinct, a hub for the construction of defence vessels and ship fabrication and maintenance activities.
According to the application, the proposal will address current berth capacity issues and help the site to support the Royal Australian Navy fleet and possible full-cycle docking maintenance activities.
The application, which first surfaced on the website of the state government’s State Development Assessment Unit in March, was initially worth $102 million and included a jetty, further reclamation, dredging works and a deck infill.
But according to the submission to the WAPC, the works were removed and the plans were revised following external consultation.
The revised proposal was approved subject to a suite of conditions, one of which requires the development to be substantially under way within the next 12 months.
SITE indicated that the fully-funded project would be able to commence as soon as all approvals had been obtained, with its construction expected to support about 140 jobs.
The lodgement of the application coincided with the beginning of construction on the complex’s new vessel transfer path, one of four major infrastructure projects worth $87.6 million launched in a bid to help the state government secure the maintenance program.
Relocation of the full-cycle docking program from South Australia would give WA responsibility for all maintenance of Australia’s Collins class submarine fleet, while creating 3,000 local jobs.
The state government has already made its case to the federal government, having extended an invitation to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to tour the complex and the work under way.
