HMAS Watson Redevelopment

Overview

HMAS Watson base is located on a 14.6 hectare site off Cliff Street at Sydney’s South Head in New South Wales. The HMAS Watson Redevelopment project is addressing functionality and capacity shortfalls in facilities and infrastructure on the base.

The project also aims to address high risk issues associated with non-compliant facilities and reduce ongoing operating costs by consolidating similar functions.

HMAS Watson site images (PDF, 1.11 MB)

Community information

Defence consulted with local residents, statutory authorities and other interested stakeholders as part of obtaining Parliamentary expediency for the works to proceed under the provisions of the Public Works Act 1969. Consultation was conducted during September and October 2019 with a community information session held in 2020.

Defence will conduct further community information sessions throughout the construction phase of the project.

Traffic and parking

Defence commissioned a traffic consultant to assess the traffic impacts of the construction activities. The assessment considered impacts to existing traffic networks including roads, public transport, pedestrian and cycling paths.

HMAS Watson Traffic and Parking Impact (PDF, 412.1 KB)

Noise management

Defence commissioned a specialist environmental consultant to assess the noise impacts of the construction activities on the local community.

Noise management and treatment measures will be implemented to reduce noise where measures may exceed acceptable limits. Treatment measures are designed to ensure any impacts are minimised.

HMAS Watson Noise Impact (PDF, 1.15 MB)

Project details

Planned works for the next 6 weeks 11/11/2024 to 23/12/2024:

• Off Base
  • Temporary guard house remains operational.
  • Base access continues to be reduced to a single lane. Next traffic switch is planned in mid-Dec to open both lanes following works completion at the Base Entry. 
• Training Facility
  • Structural works are ongoing with large concrete pours for suspended decks planned to occur weekly / bi-weekly 
  • Façade works are due to commence from late-Nov / early-Dec.
• Health Clinic
  • Landscaping works ongoing until late-Nov. 
• Base Entry
  • Civil works are ongoing.
  • Asphalting and line marking works are scheduled 18 Nov – 20 Dec. Nightworks will occur on the following days between 6 pm and 6 am on 25 Nov, 9 Dec, 12 Dec, and 19 Dec. These works are subject to appropriate weather conditions and may be rescheduled if necessary. 
  • Internal fit-out and services commissioning works for the new guard house and pass office are complete.
  • Landscaping and finishing works are ongoing. 
• Site Wide Services
  • Inground services installation works ongoing. 
• Out of hours vehicle movements:
  • Large concrete pours for Training Facility. Out of hour arrival to site is expected for the concrete pump and concrete trucks on the large pour days and there is the potential for vehicles leaving the site outside of the construction hours on these days if the pour runs over time. 
  • Wide load delivery for Training Facility. Out of hours delivery of loading platforms due to its designation as a wide load. 
  • Asphalting works at the Base Entry. Out of hours access to and from site for road paving equipment and asphalt delivery trucks. 
  • Line marking and roundabout construction works at the Base Entry. Out of hours access to and from site for line marking equipment and delivery trucks.

HMAS Watson 6 Week Look Ahead (PDF, 20.44 KB)

Timeline