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The federal government has reopened Victoria’s Point Wilson Wharf as it expands national plans to accelerate long-range strike, guided weapons stocks and establish sovereign missile manufacturing in Australia.
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The Corio Bay wharf, reopened on 23 October following remediation works, is hoped to recommence large-scale importation of guided weapons, explosive ordnance, and associated material shipments.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the project has supported local businesses and jobs in Geelong, with more than 200 people directly employed to deliver the work.
“Geelong’s Point Wilson Wharf will make an important contribution to the Albanese government’s commitment to investing in guided weapons and explosive ordnance stocks for the Australian Defence Force, as recommended by the Defence Strategic Review,” he said.
“The revitalised jetty and wharf facility will deliver the infrastructure and logistics to support Australia’s vital sovereign supply chains and improve our national resilience.
“This project has delivered significant opportunities for businesses and supported hundreds of local jobs here in Geelong.”
In addition to supporting the Australian Defence Force, the upgrades to the wharf will see it also available to support other key Australian industries.
The federal government is continuing efforts to increase guided weapons and explosive ordnance stocks for the Australian Defence Force as part of immediate actions to reprioritise Defence’s capabilities, in line with the Defence Strategic Review, according to Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.
“The Albanese government understands the importance of developing a local munitions and guided weapons manufacturing capability, to respond to the strategic challenges we face,” he said.
“We are taking the necessary steps to deliver on our plan to start manufacturing missiles in Australia in the next two years.”
The federal government has previously announced $4.1 billion in funding to develop, acquire, and improve the long-range strike capability of the Australian Army under a key recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review, released earlier this year.
It also announced in April a committed $2.5 billion for Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise to manufacture guided weapons and their critical components, long-range strike missions, air defence missiles, 155mm artillery ammunition, sea mines, and other munitions in Australia.
The remaining $1.6 billion will be allocated to developing long-range strike capabilities by accelerating the delivery of additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), battle management and support systems, as well as accelerating acquisition of Precision Strike Missiles (PRISM) for multi-domain strike.
The former Morrison Federal Government and Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson announced work to remediate the major Defence site at Point Wilson in November 2019; under a $193 million contract awarded to CPB Contractors Pty Ltd for remediation of waterside infrastructure at Defence’s Explosive Ordnance site.
At that time, construction was scheduled to commence in January 2020 with completion of the Project anticipated by late 2022.
