AMC expands facilities

A $90 million investment in Western Australia’s shipbuilding facilities could generate billions of dollars for the state economy. The funding boost for the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at Henderson, in southern Perth, would also create thousands of jobs.

The project would see the installation of additional common-use infrastructure, including a floating dock and rail transfer system to launch and retrieve large ships, and an extension and upgrade of the existing wharves. The project would reinforce the position of WA and the AMC as a leading shipbuilding location in Australia. The project would support naval repair and maintenance work already undertaken at the AMC, and would enhance prospects of future naval ship construction, repair and maintenance work for the state.

The development would also provide a substantial boost to WA’s bid for the $2 billion Amphibious Vessel project for the Australian Defence Force, which expected to create up to 2,000 highly technical and manufacturing-based jobs. The AMC project will receive $81 million from the State Government, $5 million from the Australian Submarine Corporation towards the rail transfer system, and $4 million from the Royal Australian Navy towards permanent wharf services. After construction, it is estimated up to 700 people will be working within the AMC on projects including the Air Warfare Destroyers, Anzac upgrades, Delos conversion, submarine repair and maintenance.