Defence Department grilled on slow Henderson revamp project

Defence insists site boundaries for a massive new precinct at Henderson to support AUKUS will be determined “at the right time” despite concerns about the imminent arrival of US nuclear-powered submarines due in Western Australia from 2027.

Last month The West Australian revealed the “defence precinct definition” had not yet been drawn up, a situation which former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds characterised as “incompetent”.

Under questioning from Greens Senator David Shoebridge, senior officials told a senate estimates hearing that the important work was proceeding methodically and as planned.

“This is a very large complex program. What we are doing Senator is we are evolving the design and planning process and we’re only twelve months into that,” Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment David Hanley told the committee.

“So we need to define the options and the feasibility of the various locations of the activities, the infrastructure, supply chain and the workforce that we require at the Henderson precinct, and we do that as we mature the design.”

Mr Hanley insisted the WA government “have been party to the discussions where we’ve been evolving that design” and said his department would provide advice to government on locations at “the right time”.

The Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty said there would be “substantial costs that need to be clarified and firmed up as this process takes place over several years”.

“There’s very deliberate and important design work going on, we are trying to seek to establish options, a preferred option for the layout of the precinct,” Mr Moriarty said.

From 2027, up to four US Virginia-class submarines and one British Astute-class boat will be stationed at HMAS Stirling, while the nearby Henderson shipyard is being upgraded so it can provide vital support and maintenance.

As the massive Henderson Defence Precinct upgrade gets underway, the shipyard is also preparing for the construction of Landing Craft Medium and Heavy for the Army, as well as planning for the construction of Japanese-designed General Purpose Frigates.

The West has also revealed discussions have begun with Australian superannuation funds to help privately finance the Henderson project, under a similar model used to construct Defence Headquarters Joint Operations Command outside Canberra in the 2000s.