“Defence is investing $366.8 million in this project to provide major upgrade works to address shortfalls in essential services and structures resulting from age and the continuing population growth at the base. The redevelopment will support current and projected operational and support capabilities," Senator Fawcett said.

“The project has provided significant employment opportunities for approximately 2,000 workers from the Perth and Rockingham region, with all subcontractors engaged on the project local to the area. Indigenous participation is at approximately 5.4 per cent."

The redevelopment, which has been planned since 2010, features the following:

• Infrastructure upgrades;
• New buildings;
• Refurbishments; and
• Expansions and repairs.

The $367 million redevelopment started in 2017, with the upgrades anticipated to meet requirements until at least 2030.

"The strong economic management of the federal Liberal government is allowing it to continue to restore Defence capability after Labor’s savage $18 billion defence funding cuts, which drove the budget to pre-WW2 levels. We are also ensuring that local companies, contractors and tradies have a fairer and bigger slice of the work through recent initiatives such as Local Industry Capability Plans,” Senator Fawcett added.

HMAS Stirling was commissioned in 1978 and features a Submarine Escape Training Facility, one of only six in the world and the only one constructed in the southern hemisphere.