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

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 (PDF, 17.16 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 (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)

Annual compliance reports

Annual reporting will commence in 2026.