Babcock opens new Adelaide defence facility

Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has opened a new cutting-edge facility, that will see its Adelaide maintenance, manufacturing and repair footprint double in support of critical sovereign army and navy programs. The $31 million Defence-accredited building will be home to more than 100 Babcock engineers and technical experts working across nationally significant Defence programs including: Collins Class in-service sustainment and future Life of Type Extension (LOTE) support Systems on the Hunter Class Frigates Counter Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (C-CBRNE) asset management and future AUKUS endeavours. The Woodville North facility features a 4,000m2 custom-built manufacturing workshop and warehouse, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to increase operational throughput, along with an additional 2,000m2 of office space. The environmentally green building, which replaces Babcock’s operations at Osborne, has been flexibly designed to expand so it can easily cater for the future needs of Australia’s submarine program, along with a broader pipeline of activities, including, for example, the substantial work required to successfully execute AUKUS Pillar 1 and 2. The opening of the high-tech facility signals a significant uplift in capability for Babcock and its defence operations in South Australia, by providing additional space to engineer, assemble and test equipment under simulated conditions as well as deliver a full suite of high-quality asset management services. Babcock’s Collins Class delivery team will conduct deep maintenance on several of the fleet’s key systems from the new specialist facility, along with future LOTE modernisation packages as part of its partnership with ASC. The move to the new facility is well-timed for engineers and graduates working on the Hunter Class program, as it presents them with hands-on opportunities to perform detailed design work and apply their STEM skills in the creation and optimisation of mechanical systems. Babcock has successfully recruited a strong engineering and trades base in recent years, and this new facility will further enhance its ability to attract local, national and international talent to South Australia, and develop precise technical skills amongst its workforce in support of the State’s growing defence manufacturing ambitions. Bringing staff from different Defence programs together on a single, open plan floorplate will encourage knowledge sharing and the exchange of new ideas, plus create fresh avenues for career advancement. The building – owned and constructed by Commercial & General and leased to Babcock under a long-term arrangement – is designed to be carbon neutral in operation and features a 99 kilowatts rooftop solar array, ground water harvesting, electric vehicle changing stations, energy-saving lighting and end of trip facilities. Around 200 construction jobs were supported during the build process, which was undertaken by Tandem Building Group and delivered on-time. The new facility will be fully operational by the end of the year. Premier Peter Malinauskas said: “Between AUKUS, frigates and the Collins Class Submarines, we have an extraordinary opportunity to develop our state’s workforce with more highly-skilled well paid careers. Many of those highly skilled workers will be based at cutting edge facilities like these, that Babcock has constructed here at Woodville North.  This facility sets up Babcock as a major employer in our state for decades to come, and is a vote of confidence in the economic position of our state, and the potential before us.” Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said: “This cutting-edge facility underpins our commitment to our Defence customers by positioning us at the forefront of national defence capabilities. The additional space means we can scale up our sustainment output on the Collin Class fleet, deliver Life of Type Extension projects, and provide a critical pathway to AUKUS by ensuring these submarines remain operational until the first of the nuclear-powered submarines hit the water. At Babcock our mission is to create a safe and secure world together, and we can already see this facility acting as a centre of collaboration for young engineers who share that ambition and want to hone their craft in an environment that gives them opportunities to grow their careers right here in Adelaide.” Commercial & General Executive Chairman Jamie McClurg said: “We are proud to have successfully delivered this cutting-edge project for our esteemed partner, Babcock. Completed on program, on budget and within 12 months, this facility marks a major advancement in South Australia’s defence infrastructure. It stands as a testament to our team’s precision, technical capability, and unwavering commitment at Commercial & General where we continue to be the state’s leading private defence delivery contractor.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]