Canberra class basing
The two LHDs are officially home-ported at Fleet Base East in Sydney.[1] On 4 December 2015, the support centre for the class at Garden Island was named after Captain John Robertson.[2] Robertson was commanding officer of the carrier Melbourne at the time of the Melbourne–Voyager collision, and was widely seen to be a scapegoat after the first Royal Commission found him to be at fault.[2]
Basing the two ships at Fleet Base East has prompted complaints from nearby residents in Potts Point and Wooloomooloo.[3] Issues raised include exhaust fumes and noise pollution from the ships' generators and machinery running around-the-clock, and that the large ships block views of Sydney Harbour.[3][4] To alleviate concerns, Defence is investigating options to relocate one or both ships to the northern portion of Garden Island, and has installed shore-powered air-conditioning units (allowing the ships' onboard generators to be shut down at night).[4]
The ships are intended to regularly operate out of Townsville, the base of 2RAR.[1] To this end, the Department of Defence contributed A$30 million to the A$85 million upgrade of the multi-purpose Berth 10 at the Port of Townsville, which was completed in October 2013.[5][6] Naval vessels have been allocated 45 days of berthing per year.[7] Defence also spent A$5.3 million to lease and develop a dedicated staging area for equipment and personnel within the Port of Townsville precinct.[5]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
McPhedranwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b McPhedran, Ian (4 December 2014). "Formal apology long overdue for navy hero Captain John Robertson". The Advertiser. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ a b Hansen, Nick (18 March 2015). "Residents fume as HMAS Canberra blocks their view, keeps them awake and now there's another one on the way". Wentworth Courier. NewsLocal (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b Hansen, Nick (13 November 2015). "$1.5 billion navy vessel NUSHIP Adelaide docks for indefinite stay in Sydney beside HMAS Canberra". Wentworth Courier. NewsLocal (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Minister for Defence – Port of Townsville Berth 10 upgrade opening" (Press release). Department of Defence Ministers. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ Carter, David (23 October 2013). "Townsville's Berth 10 opens". Rebuilding the Nation. Faircount Media Group. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ Raggatt, Tony (24 February 2015). "Townsville port's cruise terminal one of its busiest wharves". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
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