Babcock Australasia has commenced construction of a new $31 million integrated, manufacturing, warehouse and office facility in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

The Torrens Road site will include a 4000m² purpose-built manufacturing and maintenance building that will underpin Babcock’s delivery of support to land and naval defence programs including in-service sustainment for the Collins-class submarine fleet.

The project will also include development of a separate 2000m² administrative support building while the remainder of the one hectare site is being kept in readiness for potential expansion to cater for future AUKUS support.

Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said the site was an exciting step in the company’s growth phase.

“This new facility will be a critical enabler of our ability to not only service existing land and naval programs but to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunities that will be created in South Australia by the AUKUS trilateral partnership,” said Mr Cridland.

“It will be home to current and future generations of highly talented skilled individuals and teams, who will get to work on some of our country’s largest and most important defence projects right here in Adelaide.”

About 200 construction jobs will be supported through the build process, with more than 100 ongoing roles across engineering, project management, HR, finance and commercial to be created on build completion.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas attended a ceremony to launch the start of construction earlier this month.

“Preparing the infrastructure and skills to support this defence capability is critical, and it relies on strong partnerships such as this one between Commercial & General and Babcock Australasia,” Premier Malinauskas said.

“Facilities like this will act as a beacon to young South Australians seeking a career that offers huge opportunities.”

Due for completion in Q3 2024, South Australian developer Commercial & General has partnered with Babcock to deliver the development.