The Submarine Rotational Force – West Priority Infrastructure project was approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) on 27 May 2025.
Decision notice
Approval notice – EPBC 2024/10031
Variation to Conditions May 2026 – EPBC 2024/10031
Variation to Conditions September 2026 - EPBC 2024/10031
Annual compliance reports
HMAS Stirling Clearing of Protected Matters (PDF, 1.22 MB)
HMAS Stirling Clearing of Protected Matters (Native Shape Files) (ZIP, 7.23 KB)
Management plans
The EPBC Act approval requires Defence to publish and maintain several management plans for the project.
Construction Environmental Management Plan
The Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) satisfies approval conditions 6-8 of the EPBC Act approval. It sets out the management measures to avoid, minimise and manage potential impacts. It outlines roles and responsibilities, and the overall framework for procedures and processes required to implement the CEMP.
The CEMP is an active, iterative management plan. It will be updated to include future phases of the project ahead of time, for example, future planned maritime activities.
Construction Environmental Management Plan Version 3.1 (PDF, 82.62 MB)
Superseded versions:
Construction Environmental Management Plan Version 3 (superseded) (PDF, 81.78 MB)
Construction Environmental Management Plan Version 2.1 (superseded) (PDF, 15.59 MB)
Construction Environmental Management Plan Version 2 (superseded) (PDF, 20.15 MB)
Construction Environmental Management Plan Version 1 – Early Works (superseded) (PDF, 17.16 MB)
Garden Island Fox and Cat Management Plan
The Garden Island Fox and Cat Management Plan has been prepared to meet conditions 21, 22 and 23 of the EPBC Act approval.
Garden Island Fox and Cat Management Plan Version 2 (PDF, 2.28 MB)
Superseded version:
Garden Island Fox and Cat Management Plan Version 1 (superseded) (PDF, 6.79 MB)
Syngnathid Management Plan
The Syngnathid Management Plan has been prepared to meet Conditions 25 – 28 of the EPBC Act approval.
The latest version of the Plan has been redacted to remove sensitive biodiversity data in accordance with Condition 34 of the EPBC Act Approval.
Sygnathid Management Plan (PDF, 11.02 MB)
Oil Spill Contingency Manual
This Oil Spill Contingency Manual describes responsibilities and management for oil and fuel spills on the land, on the coastline, and within Naval Waters that are under the jurisdiction of the Commanding Officer, HMAS Stirling. It has been updated to satisfy condition 18 of the EPBC Act approval.
Oil Spill Contingency Manual Version 2 (PDF, 9.8 MB)
Superseded version:
Oil Spill Contingency Manual Version 1 (superseded) (PDF, 5.33 MB)
Garden Island Little Penguin Population Estimate Report
The Garden Island Little Penguin Population Estimate Report establishes the baseline population of Little Penguins at HMAS Stirling, details how that baseline was derived from historical population data, and how it is suitable for comparison to data collected after commencement of the Priority Infrastructure project works. It has been prepared to satisfy condition 9 of the EPBC Act approval.
Garden Island Little Penguin Population Estimate Report, 2025 (PDF, 1.75 MB)
Little Penguin Annual Monitoring Report
This report presents the findings of the 2025/26 Little Penguin monitoring program undertaken at Garden Island as part of the SRF-West Priority Infrastructure Works project. It assesses penguin activity, breeding success, population status, movement patterns, and environmental conditions.