NEW SHIPYARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3111, 27 April 1942, Page 6

NEW SHIPYARD

PLANS FOR NEWCASTLE

ENTERPRISE IN AUSTRALIA

With a further unstinted Federal Government grant of £94,000, the Australian scheme to establish a big new shipbuilding yard at Newcastle, N.S.W., has been pushed another step forward. Naval ships will be built there when the yard is ready for work to begin—-and no delays are being brooked.

The £94,000 advance included money to provide for one shipbuilding berth, using the existing gantry and crane, and for a fitting-out wharf and crane.

Recognising the urgent demand for additional main engine -building facilities, efforts had been concentrated on developing the engineering section of the undertaking. To keep the pledge given by the Premier, Mr McKell, shipbuilding facilities have been developed. “Dismantling of the shipyard building at Walsh Island, reconditioning of the shipyard tools, and preparation of the ground and foundations for the shipyard buildings are well advanced, ” stated the N.S.W. Minister of Public Works, Mr Cahill, commenting on the Government advance. Intensified Effort “Now that the Commonwealth Government has identified itself with the shipbuilding section of our project, an intensified effort will be made to make available, as soon as possible, a complete ship-repairing and shipbuilding establishment which, in addition to catering for repairs in conjunction with the floating-dock, will be able to undertake the building of one vessel on the berth which the Federal Government has now authorised.”

Mr Cahill explained that the lay-out of the shipyard included four building berths, two of which would take vessels up to 10,000 tons. The State Government’s next move would be to complete and equip these additional berths, together with equivalent construction facilities.

The engineering section is being developed rapidly, and the undertaking has already been engaged on an order placed by the Australian Shipbuilding Board for a number of parts of main engines for merchant vessels.