A naval base in Port Kembla could give Wollongong a chance to echo the research and industry success of Californian military city San Diego, according to a new push from the University of Wollongong.
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Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings has thrown his support behind the call to relocate the Garden Island naval base to Port Kembla, emailing politicians and other Illawarra influencers after a trip to the US city.
During an April study tour, Professor Wellings – accompanied by his chief administrative officer Melva Crouch and government relations director Canio Fierravanti – explored links and partnership between the US Navy and institutions like the University of California.
“San Diego is a harbour city that thrives from a significant military presence,” Professor Wellings said in an email. “The higher education institutions and strong culture of entrepreneurship and research combine with the US Department of Defense to create a unique culture that fosters innovation and growth.”
“The city of Wollongong has the potential to become a microcosm of the San Diego success story.”
The military sector is responsible for about 328,000 jobs – 22 per cent of the region’s total – in San Diego, resulting in $22.7 billion in income and $45 billion in gross regional product.
In 2014, Illawarra-based Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells made a submission to the defence white paper on the nation's future defence capabilities, floating a proposal for Sydney’s Fleet Base East to be relocated to Port Kembla.
Mr Fierravanti, who visited San Diego on the UOW study tour, is the Senator’s brother.
A report from the tour highlights how the defence presence in the US city has helped boost military jobs, but also those in biotechnology and cybersecurity.
“UOW is well placed to facilitate a burgeoning cybersecurity industry here, with ample capacity to meet the emerging IT demands in this space and house a centre of cybersecurity excellence,” it said. It also noted that Wollongong degrees in cybersecurity “could possibly be expended to suits the demands of a defence presence”, and says there are opportunities for start up companies and oceanography research which could come from links to a naval base.
The city of Wollongong has the potential to become a microcosm of the San Diego success story.
- Professor Paul Wellings
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
