Defence Minister Richard Marles and WA Premier Roger Cook will announce on Wednesday the establishment of a consolidated Commonwealth precinct at the Henderson shipyard where nuclear-powered submarines will be maintained.
The precinct will build army landing craft and general purpose frigates for the navy.
A total of $127 million will be spent over the next three years for a feasibility study for planning and design of the precinct, which is likely to cost tens of billions over the next two decades, with the total price-tag still unknown.
Thousands are jobs will be created at the multibillion-dollar precinct south of Perth. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
Under the AUKUS partnership, UK and US nuclear-powered submarines will begin a rotation in WA from 2027, prompting concerns from security experts over the planned timetable.
At least one dry dock will be built, which is needed for depot-level (deep) maintenance of submarines.
A co-operation agreement between the federal and WA governments will also be signed to develop governance over the precinct.
It is unclear what part of the precinct will be owned by the Commonwealth.
Plans include a floating dock for in-water maintenance and another for contingencies which could be used for unplanned repairs on nuclear powered-submarines.
The consolidation of the defence precinct is expected to support continuous naval shipbuilding at Henderson shipyard.
The government announced earlier this year, when releasing the surface fleet review, the navy would acquire 11 new general purpose frigates.
While the first few would be bought overseas, the rest would be built at Henderson.
The government has also previously committed $8 billion to expand HMAS Stirling naval base, located south of Perth.
The defence strategic review, released last year, raised concerns about the ongoing viability of the shipyard and the jobs it supports unless its operations were consolidated by the government.
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