PM Transcripts

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 205
18 March 1974
COCKBURN SOUND SHIP REPAIR FACILITIES FOR STUDY
( Joint Statement by the Prime Minister, the Hon. E. G. Whitlam
and the Premier of Western Australia,
the Hon. J. T. Tonkin, M. L. A.)
An independent study to examine ship repair
requirements, both commerical and naval, on the West Australian
coast, is to be commissioned early this year.
The Australian and West Australian Governments will
commission a j-udy of the possibilities of long term, staged
development of future ship repair facilities in Western Australia.
The two Governments recognised that joint naval and
commercial ship repair facilities could raise practical problems,
but agreed also that separate facilities which ultimately could
be developed to complement each other might be feasible.
Invitations to undertake the study will be issued to
selected tenderers later this month.
Tenderers will be asked to examine the economic and
engineering feasibility of establishing commercial ship repair
facilities in Western Australia. They will also be called upon
to examine the feasibility of joint planning for the development
of commerical ship repair facilities along with the Royal Australian
Navy's long term proposals for extending naval ship repair facilities
at HMAS STIRLING, Garden Island, W. A.
Representatives of-the two Governments, at a meeting
in Canberra last week, agreed on details of the study, which was
expected to be completed in about six months and cost between
$ 20,000 and $ 30,000. The cost would be shared equally between
both Governments. The study will be managed jointly by representatives
of both Governments.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.