On 24 July the new Kuru Wharf was opened in a ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra. The $210 million Kuru Wharf was delivered under the broader $600 million Larrakeyah Defence Precinct Redevelopment Program, and provides additional berthing capacity for naval vessels, including major surface combatants and submarines.
The Larrakeyah Defence Precinct Redevelopment Program is also delivering other upgrades, including improvements to base engineering services such as electrical, communications, sewerage, stormwater, potable water and fire services, added accommodation, car parking and additional capacity for maritime fuel storage.
The Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite said: “These critical upgrades to Kuru Wharf will allow for the future growth of the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct to ensure it is equipped to meet our strategic circumstances. This program of works reinforces the 2024 National Defence Strategy, which outlines critical investment into improving the ADF’s ability to operate from Australia’s northern bases.
The name Kuru commemorates the service of the requisitioned motor vessel HMAS Kuru which served as boom patrol vessel in Darwin during World War II. During her war time service Kuru also delivered supplies to the Australian-Dutch forces conducting guerilla warfare on Timor. In 1943 Kuru also rescued the survivors of the minesweeper HMAS Patricia Cam, which had been sunk by a Japanese float plane who had managed to reach Wessel Island.
