Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

The new landscape of the Osborne Naval Shipyard is taking shape with steel now being raised into place for the Hunter class construction yard.

The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, said it was fantastic to see the project achieving significant milestones.

“It’s estimated the $535 million Osborne South project will create up to 600 jobs,” Minister Pyne said.

“The steel raising for the new shipyard involves the elevation of more than 8,000 tonnes of structural steel fabricated by local South Australian companies, Samaras Structural Engineering and SA Structural Steel, two of the fifty-eight local suppliers involved in this project.”

89 per cent of steel for the entire project is Aussie steel. 

“The facilities being constructed are uniquely designed and built to facilitate the delivery of nine Hunter class frigates and to support a continuous naval shipbuilding program for future vessels.”

Minister Cormann said this was the latest step in the Government’s plan to ensure Australia develops world‑leading naval shipbuilding facilities.

“Progress at the Osborne South Shipyard is critical to ensure we meet our ambitious timeline to start the frigate program in 2020,” said Minister Cormann. 

“We would like to thank Defence, Australian Naval Infrastructure, Lendlease and the many contractors for their work on the project.”

The achievements at Osborne South are another sign the Government’s $90 billion commitment to Navy capability and national shipbuilding is on track.