The fabrication precinct, together with the existing shipbuilding and support industry areas and a future technology precinct, will be known as the Australian Marine Complex - Cockburn Sound in a campaign that will be rolled out locally, nationally and internationally. It is flagged to have a major oil and gas fabrication role.

The launch was made jointly by State Development Minister Clive Brown and Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan at a major industry function today.

"The Australian Marine Complex will be one of the most exciting maritime activity clusters in the Asia-Pacific region, delivering major value-added opportunities for Western Australian industry," Mr Brown said.

The completion by the State Government with Federal funding support of the Fabrication Precinct, which includes a 40ha common user facility, would help local industry to participate in major projects, particularly related to the oil and gas sector.

"Western Australia's oil and gas, minerals, defence and marine services sectors continue to experience strong growth, with record investments in the order of $30billion either committed or under consideration over the next decade.

"The common user area of the fabrication precinct is also expected to create 1000 direct fulltime jobs and between 2000 and 3000 indirect jobs in the support sector," Mr Brown said.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan called for a co-ordinated approach to ensure the State benefited fully from the opportunities the complex would generate.

"Teamwork and co-operation between Government agencies has helped create the infrastructure," she said. "The ongoing co-operation and active support between Government, industry, unions and the community will be the path to capitalising on that good work," Ms MacTiernan said.

The Minister said the fabrication precinct, which is due for completion in March 2003, was an excellent example of the State Government's integrated approach to development.

"Many of the elements involved in this project - planning, transport, harbours and land assembly and development - now reside within the Planning and Infrastructure portfolio following last year's public sector restructure," she said.

Vessels worth about $1.6billion in total had been built within the various precincts of Australian Marine Complex during the past decade, with 95 per cent of them delivered to international customers.