A group of Illawarra representatives is calling for a federal government study into the possibility of relocating the navy to Port Kembla.
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This is one of a trio of recommendations listed in The Jewel of the East Coast report created by a range of regional stakeholders including state and federal MPs, local councils, the University of Wollongong, RDA Illawarra and the Illawarra Business Chamber.
The so-called ‘‘Illawarra Consortia’’ was brought together by Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells to offer a united voice for the region.
The move follows on from Senator Fierravanti-Wells’ October 2014 submission to a Defence White Paper, listing the reasons for the navy to move from Garden Island - aka Fleet Base East - to Port Kembla.
“This relocation proposal represents a generational opportunity for this region”, said Senator Fierravanti-Wells.
“Our close location to Sydney, Canberra and Nowra, our steel-making and coalmining industries, internationally renowned university, advanced manufacturing and growing ICT and knowledge service sectors makes Port Kembla, an ideal and strategic choice for relocation of the RAN.”
Rather than calling for an immediate move, one of the recommendations is to see Port Kembla listed as a relocation option in the White Paper - which has never happened before.
The report also recommends the federal government evaluates the case for relocating all or part of the Garden Island operations to Port Kembla and ‘‘undertakes a feasibility and scoping study in consultation with Federal and NSW State departments’’.
The third recommendation requests the Defence White Paper team tour Port Kembla and be made aware of its capabilities.
As well as outlining the benefits to the navy - which include proximity to other naval sites, Port Kembla’s industrial base and the savings on accommodation for naval personnel - the report also highlights how a move would be helpful for the state of NSW.
‘‘This proposal ensures that Fleet Base East operations remain in NSW with its critical mass of Defence spending, personnel and operations and frees up the valuable Garden Island precinct for alternative economic development activities, acknowledging the growing competing uses for Sydney Harbour, particularly from the cruise ship industry but also development of premium real estate,’’ the submission reads.
