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The Australian public is invited to have their say on the draft Strategic Impact Assessment Report for the planned nuclear-powered submarine construction yard at Osborne, South Australia.
The public consultation period will run from 3 February to 17 March 2025, providing an opportunity for individuals, organisations and stakeholders to review the report and share their feedback.
As part of the AUKUS partnership, Australia is set to begin constructing its fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarines at Osborne before the end of the decade.
Kate van Hilst, first assistant director general SSN Construction, Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), said, “The Australian Submarine Agency invites the local community to review the draft report and have their say.”
The establishment of the nuclear-powered submarine construction yard will position Osborne as a world-class technological and defence hub, strengthening Australia’s national security and sovereign capabilities for generations to come.
The ASA has worked in close collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to undertake a strategic assessment under Part 10 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
“The works planned for the SSN-AUKUS program, including the development of infrastructure, are being designed to ensure the protection of our people, the public and the environment in South Australia,” van Hilst said.
This has resulted in the development of the draft report, which outlines key measures to mitigate potential environmental and ecological impacts associated with the construction and operation of the yard. The report also presents findings from comprehensive environmental assessments conducted as part of the process.
To ensure accessibility, hard copies of the draft report are available for public review at Port Adelaide Library (2-4 Church St, Port Adelaide) throughout the consultation period. The ASA will carefully consider all feedback submitted via the ASA website, email, or in-person at community drop-in sessions before finalising the assessment.
A digital copy of the draft report is available here: www.asa.gov.au/projects/osborne-submarine-construction-yard.
