Overview
From as early as 2027, AUKUS partners will have a rotational presence at HMAS Stirling of one UK and up to 4 US, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. This rotational presence of UK and US nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling will be known as Submarine Rotational Force - West (SRF-West).
In preparation for SRF-West, infrastructure at Stirling will be upgraded and enhanced to meet the requirements for conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines - both for visiting and rotational submarines and for Australia’s own nuclear-powered submarines in the future.
Australia’s Nuclear- Powered Submarine Program
On 14 March 2023, the respective leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) - the AUKUS partners - jointly announced the Optimal Pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
SRF-West will help Australia build the necessary operational capabilities and skills to be sovereign ready, so Australia can safely and securely own, operate, maintain and regulate a fleet of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.
Community information
Consulting with stakeholders and local communities is an integral part of the planning process. Defence is committed to ensuring interested stakeholders and the community are both heard and informed across all phases of the Project.
Environmental referral
Defence previously advised that 2 separate referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) (EPBC Act) would be submitted to the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for the SRF-West Priority Works Project: one referral covering the Maritime Infrastructure Upgrades and a separate referral covering the Controlled Industrial Facility.
The Maritime Infrastructure Upgrades referral was submitted to DCCEEW in August 2024. Defence withdrew the Maritime Infrastructure Upgrades referral on 25 October 2024.
Defence has submitted a single referral under the EPBC Act to DCCEEW for the SRF-West Priority Works Project at HMAS Stirling.
A single referral has been pursued as further planning had identified that the construction timelines for each element of work will be occurring in parallel and not several months apart as originally planned. A single submission to DCCEEW will enable a robust assessment of the Maritime Infrastructure Upgrades and Controlled Industrial Facility components together, including any cumulative impacts.
The single referral will cover:
- Maritime infrastructure upgrades to existing maritime structures occurring within the marine environment to accommodate visiting nuclear powered submarines. These works will involve dredging and piling.
- The construction and operation of a purpose built Controlled Industrial Facility to support maintenance of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The Controlled Industrial Facility will ensure the safe conduct of specialist maintenance activities and the processing and temporary storage of low and very low level liquid and solid radioactive material, similar to materials produced by hospitals conducting nuclear medicine.
The SRF-West Priority Infrastructure Works EPBC Act referral was open for public comment from 11 November 2024 until 25 November 2024. Information on the progress of the referral can be found on the on the EPBC Act Public Portal (EPBC Number 2024/10031).
Further information about the DCCEEW public comment process, as well as information about how to make comment on a referral, can be found at DCCEEW Public Comments page.
Public Works Committee approval
The SRF-West Priority Works project was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (PWC) on 6 June 2024.
Defence held community information sessions in Rockingham in July 2024, focusing on the PWC process. Defence listened to feedback from local community and key stakeholders. The feedback was consolidated and submitted to the PWC. The PWC conducted a public hearing on 2 August 2024.
The project received parliamentary expediency on 22 August 2024. The PWC Report is available on the Parliament of Australia website.
Roads and transport
Defence recognises the importance of adequate transport planning and local road upgrades in line with the increase in Defence activities at HMAS Stirling.
Defence works closely with the City of Rockingham and WA State Government on transport studies, including identifying opportunities for road upgrades to improve traffic flow for the local community. This cooperation includes a specific study on the Cape Peron Transport Needs that has been developed by the City of Rockingham under the Cape Peron Planning Investigation Area.
Housing
Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has signed 3 contracts with Western Australian businesses to deliver 550 additional new households for Defence personnel and their families close to Fleet Base West over the next 5 years. The new homes will be leased to DHA and provide accommodation close to Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling.
These agreements form part of DHA’s New Builds Volume Leasing Program and importantly will see developer Parcel Property, alongside local home builders Forma Homes and Plunkett Homes, expand local housing supplies.
The agreements follow an expression of interest period seeking industry participants who can deliver new properties using their own land, land source from the market, or a combination.
Project details
Timeframe
Early construction works began in 2024 following Commonwealth Government approval in late 2023.
Subject to environment and government approvals, main construction works are expected to commence in 2025.