By Darian Macey, February 3 2025
The Australian Government is investing significantly to expand HMAS Stirling on Garden Island in Western Australia to support conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. This initiative, known as the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West) Infrastructure Project, involves upgrading existing maritime structures and building new facilities. This blog post will provide a summary of the project’s background, scope, timeline, key environmental risks, consultants involved, and how you can have your say.
The need for enhanced naval capabilities has arisen due to a rapidly deteriorating strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific region. As a three-ocean nation, Australia requires cutting-edge naval infrastructure to maintain its security and trade interests. The SRF-West project will ensure that HMAS Stirling is ready to accommodate both visiting and rotational submarines from the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as Australia’s own nuclear-powered submarines in the future.
Project Scope
The project includes both maritime and landside infrastructure upgrades. Key components include:
- Maritime Infrastructure: Upgrades to existing maritime structures including Diamantina Pier, Moresby Harbour and Southern Boat Harbour, and Armament Wharf. This also includes dredging and piling.
- Landside Infrastructure: A purpose-built Controlled Industrial Facility (CIF) for managing and storing very low-level and low-level radioactive waste from the submarines. This will include processing of radioactive material within the CIF. The project also includes general maintenance and support services related to health physics and radiochemistry analytics.
Assessment Timeline
- Project Announced: Early 2023
- Technical Studies Started: Late 2023
- Preliminary Public Consultation: March 2024
- Expanded Public Consultation: May 2024
- Anticipated Start Date: February 1, 2025
- Anticipated End Date: March 1, 2075
The project is being delivered in stages, with early construction works planned to commence once approvals are secured.
Key Environmental Risks
The project has the potential to impact the local environment, with key risks identified including:
- Marine Environment: Potential damage to seagrass beds, impacts on marine life (including fish, penguins, and whales), and sediment control issues in Cockburn Sound. Underwater noise from construction activities could also affect marine fauna.
- Terrestrial Environment: Potential impacts on flora and fauna, including the disruption of feeding or nesting behaviors.
- Radioactive Waste: Concerns about the management, storage, use, and disposal of radiological waste and the potential impacts on the environment. The project will need to meet strict safety standards and regulatory guidelines to manage this waste effectively.
A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will be developed by the construction contractor(s) to manage these impacts. This plan will include measures to reduce the risk of turbidity and sediment plumes, manage chemical storage and fueling, and implement dust mitigation and personal protective equipment requirements. The project is also seeking a sea dumping permit.
Consultants Involved
Several consultants are involved in the project, including:
- RPS: Preparing the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment.
- GHD: Preparing the Environmental and Heritage Assessments.
- AECOM: Conducted the Environmental Baseline Contamination Assessment.
- BMT Western Australia: Prepared the Cockburn Sound assessment.
Community Consultation and How to Have Your Say
The Department of Defence has conducted several rounds of community consultation to gather feedback on the project. This has included community information sessions, pop-up events, and online surveys. The project team has engaged with local residents, Traditional Owners, local councils, government agencies, and special interest groups.
To ensure ongoing engagement, the project team is:
- Providing updates through a dedicated project website.
- Maintaining a project email address for questions and feedback.
- Developing a Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
- Committing to ongoing engagement with Traditional Owners.
The next opportunity for public comment is during the public exhibition period that will be facilitated by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) once the referral is submitted. The public can make submissions directly to DCCEEW via the EPBC Act Public Portal.
Conclusion
The SRF-West Infrastructure Project is a significant undertaking that will enhance Australia’s naval capabilities and the safety and security of the region. The Department of Defence is committed to transparently communicating with the community and managing environmental impacts effectively. To stay informed about the project, visit the project website and use the project email address to ask questions or provide feedback. Your feedback helps shape this important project.
Author: Darian Macey
Darian is a former Engineering Officer with the RAE with tertiary qualifications in Engineering and Project Management. He is a leading practitioner within Australia's NSI sector with previous employment in Government, project management and building contractor organisations.
