-AUSTRALIA,-
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS: PM No. 26/ 1972
NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY COCKBURN SOUND, W. A.
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon, C. H., M. P.
The Government considered today revised
estimates of cost for the construction of the Naval Support Facility
at Cockburn Scund, Western Australia. When the announcement was
made in October 1970 of the decision to proceed with the second
stage of the project the actual facilities on Garden Island the
total estimated cost was $ 38 million. The first stage, construction
of the causeway linking Garden Island with the mainland, is well
in hand. The latest estimate is $ 48.5 million. The
increase is attributable mainly to escalation in construction costs,
design changes found necessary as a result of more detailed site
investigations and some variations in actual requirements.
The Government decided, subject to examination of
the second stage of the project by the Parliamentary Public Works
Committee, that the proposal should proceed and to the previously
planned completion date of the end of 1975.
The facility, when completed, will provide
support for up to four escort vessels and three submarines for
periods up to a year without drydocking. The proposed works include
wharves, workshops, stores, administrative offices, barracks for
personnel, an armament depot and armament jetty, training facilitics
and an operational headquarters.
In confirming the decision to proceed with the
second stage of the Naval facility at Cockburn Sound, the Government
took into consideration the strategic changes occurring in the
Indian Ocean area, including the increasing Soviet Naval activity.
The Naval Sunoort Facility at Cockburn Sound will
provide a base for our ships to operate in the Indian Ocean for
extensive periods and may be seen as a demonstration of our interest
in contributing to the security of ocean areas adjacent to Australia.
The facility would be available to the United
States and Britain and will thus assist their nrerations in the
Indian Ocean.
0 2.
These two countries have expressed interest
in the Cockburn Sound facilities in connection with the
deployment of their ships in this area.
Further details are available from the Minister
for Defence.
CANBERRA, 21 February, 1972.