Defence Feature
Issue No. 46 - April/May 2009
‘Integration state’ is the best defence
Before the GFC, defence work was one of the hot prospects to power SA into the 21st century. Now, it’s our great hope as recession cools other sectors down dramatically. Defence SA Executive Officer, Andrew Fletcher is acutely conscious of this as he grabs the biggest share he can for us.
Defence SA remains Australia’s only stand-alone state-level defence organization. It employs 26 people FTE, mostly ex-private sector, in many advisory and supervisory areas (see www.defencesa.com).
Top of mind is Defence SA’s baby, Techport Australia and the giant Hobart class air warfare destroyer contract which starts building in earnest this year.
Andrew says popular misconception the AWD project will be ‘cut back’ to three ships from four indicates marketing has worked a bit too well.
“Three ships was the contracted number with an option for a fourth,” he says, noting the final decision won’t be known until the Defence White Paper is published later this year.
More importantly, AWD has made Techport Australia the place to build ships in this country. While funding worries stall other developments, Techport is going ahead on time and on budget as the most modern shipbuilding and maintenance facility in the southern hemisphere.
The common user shipbuilding infrastructure - wharf, runway, dry berth and Australia’s largest shiplift - is 80% complete and due for commissioning in 2010.
The 35 hectare supplier precinct is attracting subcontractors on-site to develop robust supply chains.
Almost half of Stage 1 of the supplier precinct has been sold, on freehold or leasehold basis, with Ferrocut, Babcock Integrated Technology Australia, Harbrew and National Crane Hire taking lots alongside AWD prime contractor ASC Shipbuilding Pty Ltd.
Techport Australia’s commercial precinct will co-locate office space, convenience retail and education facilities across a two-part precinct.
The precinct includes the new...
