Was brought onto an Infrastructure team to work on East Coast base prior to its disappearance from Projects.
I mention Politicians in this post as historical context and not as a bias for or against.
Port Kembla was preferred for multiple reasons including scaling up area, access to deep ocean and less impact on commercial shipping.
The location pre design allowed maximum use of space for entire Sub community with berths providing usage by surface fleet also. The idea was to allow Subs and possible Auxiliary ships basing. We did some scope for NSW Govt to see what they needed to improve in support. Think roads, hospitals, schools, housing and emergency services for supporting the impact of 5,000 personnel and then their families.
This was all prior to Sea 3000 but with FBE receiving 4 Hunters, AOR, Amphib and Anzac replacement.
FBE is currently in planning for major infrastructure upgrades which is seriously needed for future fleets. Not sure how much is public but i look forward to the whinging of Eastern Suburbs residents
Newcastle (Having grown up there so aware of the Port) is high traffic for coal industry as priority. The planned basing would be seperate to Maintenance facilities in Newcastle harbour. While it had advantages, i wasnt a fan due to movements of vessels interrupting commerical and cramped infrastructure within the location.
Brisbane was political suggestion and had as much merit as Kevin Rudd wanting FBE there during his 2013 election pitch for votes. If Brisbane was selected, it was politics and not Strategic. The 3-4hr surface passage before deep diving for Submarines should have disqualified this option at the start, before we discussed commercial shipping operations. Berths were insecure compared with PK.
Gladstone was never a serious option but was raised for votes by ALP or deflect from the other suggestions.
With the election going to ALP, the suggestion of East Coast base was shelved as the politics of it was not worth the fight as AUKUS is still a struggle to justify to ALP base. That and preferred option of Port Kembla is ALP seat whos local member opposes.
I lived in Wollongong last 2 yrs and locals were keen to explore it, knowing the economic benefits it would bring to the area. Apparently 5,000 personnel with min. Salary of $100k would benefit the area greatly was obvious to locals but not discussed.
This argument will restart in 15yrs when they start all over again, with our scoping saying 10yrs would be needed to plan, design, approve and build to certification and commencement of working operations. But hey, why get something ready now and have options.
I mention Politicians in this post as historical context and not as a bias for or against.
Port Kembla was preferred for multiple reasons including scaling up area, access to deep ocean and less impact on commercial shipping.
The location pre design allowed maximum use of space for entire Sub community with berths providing usage by surface fleet also. The idea was to allow Subs and possible Auxiliary ships basing. We did some scope for NSW Govt to see what they needed to improve in support. Think roads, hospitals, schools, housing and emergency services for supporting the impact of 5,000 personnel and then their families.
This was all prior to Sea 3000 but with FBE receiving 4 Hunters, AOR, Amphib and Anzac replacement.
FBE is currently in planning for major infrastructure upgrades which is seriously needed for future fleets. Not sure how much is public but i look forward to the whinging of Eastern Suburbs residents
Newcastle (Having grown up there so aware of the Port) is high traffic for coal industry as priority. The planned basing would be seperate to Maintenance facilities in Newcastle harbour. While it had advantages, i wasnt a fan due to movements of vessels interrupting commerical and cramped infrastructure within the location.
Brisbane was political suggestion and had as much merit as Kevin Rudd wanting FBE there during his 2013 election pitch for votes. If Brisbane was selected, it was politics and not Strategic. The 3-4hr surface passage before deep diving for Submarines should have disqualified this option at the start, before we discussed commercial shipping operations. Berths were insecure compared with PK.
Gladstone was never a serious option but was raised for votes by ALP or deflect from the other suggestions.
With the election going to ALP, the suggestion of East Coast base was shelved as the politics of it was not worth the fight as AUKUS is still a struggle to justify to ALP base. That and preferred option of Port Kembla is ALP seat whos local member opposes.
I lived in Wollongong last 2 yrs and locals were keen to explore it, knowing the economic benefits it would bring to the area. Apparently 5,000 personnel with min. Salary of $100k would benefit the area greatly was obvious to locals but not discussed.
This argument will restart in 15yrs when they start all over again, with our scoping saying 10yrs would be needed to plan, design, approve and build to certification and commencement of working operations. But hey, why get something ready now and have options.
