Work starts on Adelaide AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine shipyard

The most important step has been taken on the shipyard set to build nuclear-powered submarines in a $368bn program centred on Adelaide.

First work has started on the shipyard to build nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide as part of $368bn project, after a contract was inked for a storage area, bridge and road.

Site preparation started in the past week for a lay down and staging area to support the future construction workforce for the Osborne submarine yard, in Adelaide’s northwest.

A pedestrian bridge and road will be built from 2024 to enable the movement of thousands of workers during the yard’s construction and subsequent submarine program.

A Viriginia Class nuclear-powered submarine, which Australia will buy from the United States under the AUKUS security pact. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

Up to 4000 workers will be employed to design and build the submarine construction infrastructure, while a further 4000 to 5500 direct shipyard jobs are expected to be created building the nuclear-powered boats at the program’s peak.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has revealed Australian Naval Infrastructure this week signed a contract with Shamrock Civil to start building the staging and laydown area, using part of at least $2bn earmarked by the federal government for early design and construction of the shipyard.

Mr Marles said the start of initial work at Osborne was an important milestone, ahead of starting building nuclear-powered submarines by the end of the decade.

“The submarine construction yard at Osborne will employ thousands of Australians to work on Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines and this announcement is a key first step towards realising those important local jobs,” he said.

“There is an enormous amount of work that has occurred over the last 12 months towards realising the AUKUS pathway and that progress will continue in 2024.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas (left) watches Defence Minister Richard Marles (centre) addressing the media in March, after signing a co-operation agreement to build the AUKUS submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Premier Peter Malinauskas hailed a “significant year of progress on AUKUS” and said 2024 would be “even bigger, with visible construction at Osborne”.

“In co-operation with the Commonwealth, we’ve progressed a historic land exchange to unlock the new submarine shipyard and skills academy, while enabling thousands of new jobs and well-located homes,” he said.

“Together, we have also made significant progress in preparing the detailed workforce planning, creating thousands of new university and training places to make sure we have the highly skilled workers ready for this mammoth undertaking.”

The US Congress on December 15 approved the transfer of nuclear technology under the AUKUS security pact, through which a submarine fleet will be based on a UK design and eventually built in Adelaide.