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The Commonwealth government has announced that the public will be encouraged to provide comment and submissions on the priority works to be undertaken at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia.
The consultation period for the environmental assessment of Submarine Rotational Force - West (SRF-West) priority works will run from 29 January to 14 February 2025.
This consultation is a crucial step in ensuring transparency and public engagement as Australia progresses towards acquiring and maintaining conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
SRF-West is a vital component of Australia’s plan to acquire and operate nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership. The initiative is designed to ensure Australia’s sovereign readiness to safely maintain, own, operate and regulate its advanced submarine capability from the early 2030s.
Felix Bowman-Derrick, acting First Assistant Secretary, security and estate group, said, “Defence has put in place a range of avoidance and mitigation measures to minimise any potential impacts of the works.”
The priority works are set to include:
- Upgrading maritime structures to accommodate the advanced submarines.
- Constructing and operating a controlled industrial facility dedicated to supporting the maintenance of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
- Implementing world-class safety and environmental measures to protect personnel, the public and the surrounding environment.
- Environmental assessment and public consultation.
On 25 October 2024, the Department of Defence submitted a referral to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This initial referral was open for public comment from 11 to 25 November 2024.
This second public consultation period, running from 29 January to 14 February 2025, will further support the environmental assessment process under the EPBC Act. The feedback gathered will be considered in the decision-making process, ensuring that SRF-West adheres to Australia’s highest environmental protection standards.
“Defence takes its environmental obligations very seriously. The controlled action assessment will review these mitigation measures to ensure they meet requirements of the EPBC Act," Bowman-Derrick said.
To ensure widespread awareness, notifications of the public comment period will be advertised in newspapers from 1 February 2025. The consultation period will officially conclude on 14 February 2025.
Defence encourages all interested parties to review the available documents and provide feedback as Australia takes this significant step towards developing a sovereign nuclear-powered submarine capability while upholding its commitment to environmental and public safety.
Priority works documents are available online via the Defence website, here: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/locations-property/infrastructure-projects/submarine-rotational-force-west-infrastructure-project.
Hard copies will also be available for public viewing at the State Library of Western Australia and the Rockingham Public Library.