REPRESENTATIVES from the Department of Industry and Technology will travel to Canberra this week to sell the State Government’s $200 million Australian Marine Complex at Cockburn Sound.
Defence is a major potential customer for the new facility and the trip to the Defence and Industry 2002 conference follows Development Minister Clive Brown’s recent meeting with officials from the US Navy and Marines to explore opportunities in WA.
Industry analysts have suggested the scale of the facility could easily accommodate major defence con-tracts from Australia and around the world.
The 150-tonne lift and a 180 metre-long fabrication shed are unique to WA in the Australian context.
The State Government has appointed JB Facilities Management and Babcock Defence Systems as the preferred proponent for the Australian Marine Complex.
“The facility manager not only looks after the facility; another major role is developing and growing the business,” JBFM-Babcock director joint venture Michael Bailey said.
“We have the added role of marketing.
“It’s essentially open to anyone; one of our roles is to find out about potential projects.
“We are also looking at con-tracts that have traditionally been going overseas.
There were three main industries the joint venture had identified, he said.
“[The] oil and gas sector, the resource industry … and the other interest is marine and defence,” Mr Bailey said.
“Our focus would be on serving the Australian requirements and there is some interest from foreign maritime industries.”
The type of work would include repair and maintenance activities.
“What we are looking at is the potential for new construction, which is more and more modular in nature,” Mr Bailey said.
“There’s a lot coming up in the next 10 to 15 years in terms of dollars.
“Part of our role is to make certain we get a share of it.”
LandCorp chief executive Ross Holt announced the JBFM-Babcock joint venture following the request for proposals, which was advertised last December.
The preferred proponent will now work with LandCorp and the Department of Industry and Technology to develop a business and marketing plan for the facility.
