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French defence giant Naval Group to open new HQ in Port Adelaide

The French defence giant building the $90 billion Future Submarines in Adelaide will open its new headquarters in Port Adelaide within months.

Naval Group’s new $25 million HQ near the Hart’s Mill building in the historic precinct will eventually be home to about 350 employees.

It’s tipped to be a shot in the arm for the port’s rejuvenation, as the company ramps up its SA operations ahead of the Attack Class submarine build.

The new office will be a complete internal refit of part of the old TafeSA building on the wharf.

It comes as the defence giant hires its 250th employee in Australia, with the total workforce expected to scale up to 1700 by 2028 during the submarine build.

Naval is expecting to hire another 50 staff by December.

“With our workforce rapidly expanding we need an additional base as we prepare for the move to the submarine construction yard at Osborne,” Naval Group Australia chief executive John Davis said.

“Port Adelaide, with its strong heritage of waterfront industry and proximity to both Osborne

and our Keswick office, is the perfect place for this new base.”

City of Port Adelaide Enfield mayor Claire Boan said Naval basing its HQ at the port would be “fantastic for not only the local region but the state as a whole.”

She said it would be a boost for business confidence to have hundreds more potential customers and a major company moving to the port.

“It’s one of those spaces that’s just been waiting to be reawakened, and we see this as a really great opportunity,” she said.

“We’ve also got a couple of new hotels which will be finished in the next couple of years so accommodation will be a big spotlight for our area.”

Andra Easton, who was in the navy before moving across to defence industry, was Naval’s 250th employee hired in Australia.

The 43-year-old mum of three, whose expertise is managing technical data, said she spotted the job as Naval’s Information Manager on LinkedIn.

“When this opportunity came up to be part of something new that’s going to shape our state and my children’s future, and help South Australia and Australia with the technology, I absolutely couldn’t say no to it,” she said.

Mpol03 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:42 pm

So glad this is all going ahead. In the least this will really lift the Port and bring more workings and people living in the area. Are the warehouse refurbishments and museums that were planned still to go ahead? They’d compliment the new housing nicely.

Not sure if this is a discussion for the economy thread but is the submarine contract big enough to be a real shot at lifting the state’s economy? Will it be a game changer for SA? Or could it be more that it paves the way and is the start of change?

Last I heard WA wanted to poach it from us but it seems this is no longer the case.

Mpol03 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:42 pm

So glad this is all going ahead. In the least this will really lift the Port and bring more workings and people living in the area. Are the warehouse refurbishments and museums that were planned still to go ahead? They’d compliment the new housing nicely.

Not sure if this is a discussion for the economy thread but is the submarine contract big enough to be a real shot at lifting the state’s economy? Will it be a game changer for SA? Or could it be more that it paves the way and is the start of change?

Last I heard WA wanted to poach it from us but it seems this is no longer the case.

SRW wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 2:40 pm

I can't help but feel the delay on the announcement re: submarine sustainment is because the Liberals have decided on WA (with its ministerial advocates) and are waiting until they don't have to worry about negotiating priority legislation with Rex Patrick on the Senate crossbench. I hope Marshall doesn't roll over either.

Naval Group to open new office in Port Adelaide

Naval Group Australia will open a new $25 million office in Port Adelaide as it gears up for the move to the Attack class submarine construction yard.
The announcement came as Naval Group Australia welcomed its 250th employee as part of its ramp up of staff.

Naval Group Australia CEO John Davis said that the new facility would be opened in the coming months and represented a further step in the journey to Attack class submarine construction.

“With our workforce rapidly expanding we need an additional base as we prepare for the move to the submarine construction yard at Osborne,” Davis said.

“Port Adelaide - with its strong heritage of waterfront industry and proximity to both Osborne and our Keswick office - is the perfect place for this new base.

“With more than 250 people now employed by Naval Group Australia, our local workforce is growing and we are seeing the benefits of this exciting program to the local community.

“We are looking forward to being part of the proud Port Adelaide community as our program rapidly ramps up ahead of the move to the submarine construction yard.”

Naval Group Australia has embarked on what it calls an ‘aggressive recruiting campaign’ with the workforce expected to increase to over 1,700 direct jobs in 2028.

The new office space will be able to host up to 350 employees and provide access to local amenities including a creche, gym, cafes, shopping centre and other local businesses.

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/ne ... t-adelaide

SA’s ‘maritime Sovereign Hill’ could provide extra boost to booming Port Adelaide


Creating a maritime version of Sovereign Hill as a major drawcard for Port Adelaide is the vision of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide group.

The organisation behind bringing the historical vessel to SA has released a strategic masterplan for its next life as part of a tourist attraction, which includes a possible fish market.

A 14-year campaign to save the City of Adelaide – the world’s oldest surviving clipper ship – was resolved in November last year.

The ship was moved to a new home, from Dock One to Dock Two at Port Adelaide, to become the centrepiece of the a new seaport village tourist attraction.


An example of development opportunities at Dock Two in Port Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

Clipper Ship City of Adelaide director Peter Christopher said the ultimate goal was to offer a “complete maritime experience” and “the chance to explore the days of yesteryear”, much like Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill open-air museum.

While the project is currently unfunded, he hoped it would guide the overall development of Dock Two as a maritime precinct.

“It’s always been part of our plan to have a seaport village developed around the ship, to provide a source of income to enable work to be done on it,” Mr Christopher said.

Mr Christopher said the plan took more than a year’s worth of work.

One of the key findings was that commercial opportunities needed to be investigated as a matter of priority to ensure the financial sustainability of the Dock Two plan, in particular, the possibility of introducing a fish market.

“We’ve had more than 10 meetings with the fishing industry to explore the option (of setting up a fish market) and it’s a serious proposition,” Mr Christopher said.

“What we’re looking at is more than just a fish market, it could be processing and storage.”

Across the past 20 years, the clipper ship group has raised and spent about $7 million on the clipper ship.

The vessel was brought to Port Adelaide from Scotland in 2014.


The City of Adelaide is the world's oldest Clipper Ship. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Income was now being generated through tours and events on the ship, but Mr Christopher said commercial development was crucial.

“We’ve got a proven track record in attracting sponsors and financial backers,” he said.

“We’re also having discussions about linking in with other museums.”

He said another key part of the project was getting the ship off the barge it’s presently on and onto land.

“It will take the project to a different level and make the ship far more accessible,” he said.

Mr Christopher believes the development will only help to make the Port stronger.

“We want to help create business for others in the Port,” he said.