Albanese Government to Enhance Infrastructure & Connectivity in Rockingham
18 Dec 24
The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments will deliver a series of studies to inform future infrastructure and transport requirements around HMAS Stirling in Rockingham, Western Australia.
Western Australia is at the forefront of Australia’s AUKUS pathway, continuing its proud tradition as the home of Australia’s submarine fleet. From 2027, HMAS Stirling will host the rotational presence of United States and United Kingdom submarines through Submarine Rotational Force-West, before Australia owns and operates its own fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.
The Albanese Government recognises that as part of this, work needs to be undertaken to ensure adequate transport planning and local road upgrades occur, in line with the increase in Defence activities at HMAS Stirling over the coming decades.
Over the next year, the Government will fund three studies in the Rockingham region, focussed on access to HMAS Stirling:
- A study of options for roads, infrastructure and local transport;
- A detailed environmental study of the Garden Island Highway Proposal, and;
- A detailed heritage study and constraint mapping exercise of the Garden Island Highway Proposal.
The studies will commence in early 2025 for a period of approximately 10 months, with findings to be presented to the Commonwealth and Western Australian Government for consideration. These activities will include consultation and build on existing studies and work already undertaken by the State Government in the local area.
These joint activities will be implemented under the Cooperation Agreement between the Commonwealth and Western Australian Government, which was announced in October 2024, demonstrating our shared commitment to supporting communities and contributing to Defence’s capability in Western Australia.
AUKUS will deliver a generational investment in the Western Australian economy. Over the next decade, the Albanese Government is investing up to $8 billion to expand HMAS Stirling, creating around 3,000 direct jobs. Around a further 3,000 jobs will be generated to support contingency and depot-level maintenance of our nuclear-powered submarines at the Henderson Defence Precinct.
Source: Defence Media