Throughout 2025 ARPANSA has undertaken a thorough independent review and assessment, including public consultation, of the Australian Submarine Agency's (ASA) licence application to construct the Controlled Industrial Facility (CIF), on Garden Island, Rockingham, WA.
ARPANSA has approved the licence application and issued a licence for this second stage of the facility licencing process.
The CIF will provide low-level waste management and maintenance services to support the Submarine Rotational Force - West program. The CIF will be constructed at the existing HMAS Stirling Navy Base, on Garden Island, Rockingham, WA.
ARPANSA's implements a multi-layered evaluation and review process to ensure an independent and comprehensive licence assessment, including consideration of all public submissions and all technical and management information submitted by the applicant (ASA).
The ARPANSA CEO, will only grant a licence if there is confidence that stringent requirements have been met under the ARPANS Act and Regulations, that international best practice in radiological protection has been met, and that there is evidence that these requirements can continue to be met throughout the lifecycle of the facility.
For this licence application 93 public submissions were received and considered. A summary of the submission themes and ARPANSA's response is available on the ARPANSA website.
As part of transitional arrangements associated with the establishment of Australia's new dedicated regulator for nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines, this licence will be transferred to the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator (ANNPSR) from 1 November 2025. The application for the next licence stage for this facility - for operation - will be submitted to the new regulatory authority. ARPANSA will continue to work with this new regulator to support the smooth transition of regulatory responsibility.
