Overview
- Federal and Western Australian governments announced the selected site at Henderson on Monday, setting the boundaries for a new Defence Precinct intended to host continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment.
- The official site layout designates a preferred area for sustaining Australia's future conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines alongside facilities to build general purpose frigates and Army landing craft.
- The precinct is underpinned by an initial A$12 billion commitment announced in September 2025 and is projected to support about 10,000 direct jobs over the next two decades.
- Governments said the program will enter a concept design phase with expanded technical work, industry and community engagement and pledged measures to minimise disruption to existing commercial users at the shipyard.
- Media reports linked to the announcement say US and UK nuclear-powered submarine rotations could begin in 2027 and that plans include floating contingency docks and up to A$8 billion for HMAS Stirling, but those timing and funding details remain reported items pending further government confirmation.