Australian-owned maritime engineering company Birdon has welcomed the government’s investment into the multi-billion dollar defence precinct for naval shipbuilding and servicing in Henderson, near Perth. While the development of the Henderson precinct is a long-term project for the Government over two decades, Birdon says immediate investment and commitment from the business, education and training sectors is required to build workforce capability in the area.
Birdon first operated out of the Common User Facility (CUF) in Henderson following the award of a dredging contract by the WA Government in 2008. Birdon established a permanent presence at the CUF in 2017 and has recently expanded its footprint with the lease of additional facilities and the establishment of a technical hub beside the Australian Marine Complex. With 42 employees already working from the new facility, this is just beginning of the company’s WA expansion.
Birdon’s Executive General Manager Maritime Mark Albertson said the government’s investment would be a boon for Western Australia, with the injection of tens of billions of dollars into the State’s economy and the creation of about 10,000 high-skilled jobs. “Filling these jobs with skilled workers will be a challenge for the industry, but businesses like Birdon are already on the front foot,” Albertson said. “Birdon is committed to growing the skilled workforce needed in WA and has already commenced recruitment. We are developing plans for training in the area by establishing partnerships with education institutions such as South Metro TAFE to create employment pathways for locals. With 47 years of maritime engineering behind us and a global workforce of over 750 people, we’re committed to bringing our specialist skills and advanced whole-of-life maritime solutions to bolster capability in Henderson. We’re not just about filling short-term jobs, but building careers. Our Future Ready Graduate program in collaboration with Engineers Australia provides employees with industry-specific training, hands-on experience and professional development.”
Birdon CEO Jamie Bruce said the company had achieved 32 percent year-on-year growth and is actively exploring further expansion opportunities through continuous re-investment. “Henderson is a key element of Birdon’s expansion strategy. We’re committed to strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence position and providing local jobs and economic benefits,” Bruce said.
Birdon is a family-owned and run Australian business that has grown from a small operation in a regional town to a global group with $4 billion under contract with defence agencies in Australia, the US, UK, Europe and Asia, and clients in the oil and gas, mining and resources sectors locally. Birdon has a strong track record of local and international export success, drawing on the company’s global capability to build local capacity for Australian projects. Most recently, Birdon was announced as Winner of the Sustainability and Green Economy Award at the Premier’s NSW Export Awards for the decommissioning and disposal of ex-naval refuelling ship HMAS Sirius, the largest maritime structure in Australia, with 99.13% materials recovered by our team and supply chain partners in Henderson.
Meanwhile, the Submarine Institute of Australia (SIA) said it too welcomed the government on signing a cooperation agreement to establish a new Defence Precinct at Henderson. The precinct will provide the facilities for submarine maintenance, including nuclear-powered submarines, and will deliver continuous naval shipbuilding. This is another significant milestone to deliver a nuclear‑powered submarine capability, which will be the cornerstone of Australia’s strategy of deterrence for generations to come, the group said. “The SIA looks forward to welcoming the Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Richard Marles MP, and WA Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, to our biennial conference in early November where we anticipate this major announcement will be discussed,” said Michael Fitzgerald, SIA President.
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