A HUGE navy shipbuilding contract is set to deliver 500 new jobs to Williamstown.
The Federal Government announced last Wednesday that the high-tech construction and logistics company Tenix was the preferred tenderer to construct and fit out the largest navy ships ever built in Australia.
The two amphibious landing helicopter dock ships will be built at Tenix’s Williamstown shipyard at an estimated cost of $3 billion.
The State Government estimated the project’s initial worth as $500 million for the Victorian economy with flow-on benefits of up to $1 billion over the next five years.
Gathered in the foyer of Tenix’s Williamstown headquarters, the Premier, Steve Bracks, and Victorian Minister for Industry and Development, Theo Theophanous, celebrated the news with employees.
“This is great news for Victoria and great news for Williamstown,” said Mr Bracks, who is also the local state member.
Victoria has more than 500 businesses employing 4000 people in support of naval shipbuilding and repair, according to state government figures.
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“Many of these jobs will be in specialist areas like manufacturing, design and systems integration work. Williamstown was the sensible choice for this project with a proud history of producing some of the best naval vessels ever assembled in Australia,” Mr Bracks said.
Mr Theophanous said the contract put Victoria in a strong position to win work associated with other defence work such as the air warfare destroyer project.
When asked about past disappointments in losing contracts to South Australian-based operations, Mr Bracks replied that “you have to be very patient with defence contracts”.
A statement from the federal Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, said the ships “will greatly enhance Australia’s ability to deploy forces in strength when needed or provide assistance in time of natural disaster.”
He said the project would lead to new opportunities for Australian companies in leading edge technologies like electronics, systems engineering and design development.
The federal member for Gellibrand, Nicola Roxon, also welcomed the announcement.
"Tenix has a strong reputation and the amphibious ships project will secure the jobs of existing Tenix workers as well as increasing employment opportunities in the area,” she said.
“As a local member of course I hope the great skills of many local workers will be maximised in this project.”
Hobsons Bay City Council mayor, Leigh Hardinge, was thrilled by the news.
He said the project gave local people great opportunities for employment and training and a boost to the local economy.
“Tenix need to be congratulated for the work they put in to winning the contract,” he said.
Upon completion, each ship will be a little over 230 metres (207 metres at the waterline) in length, almost as long as the Rialto building is high, and will be able to carry almost 1200 personnel.
The ship design is by Navantia, a naval shipbuilding company owned by the Spanish government.
Expected completion for shipbuilding is between 2012 and 2014.
