Geraldton is set to play a key role in Australian astronomy with an announcement today of a new $4 million facility to support Australia and New Zealand's bid to host the $2.5 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio-telescope.
Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr announced the facility following a meeting with the Mayor of the City of Geraldton-Greenough, Cr Ian Carpenter.
“The CSIRO Murchison Radio Observatory Support Facility, will directly link Geraldton based researchers with the world-class $80 million Pawsey High Performance Computing Centre for SKA Science to be built in Perth,” Senator Carr said.
“Up to 12 highly skilled personnel will be employed at the Geraldton facility.
“This announcement comes on top of the support provided by the National Broadband Network, where the Geraldton to Perth link has been named a national priority. The link contains additional capacity to accommodate the SKA.
"This facility will ensure Geraldton plays a key role in Australian astronomy.
"Geraldton's unique position means that it can serve as a major link between the proposed SKA base at Boolardy Station in WA's Mid West and Perth.
"Not only will the facility support valuable local jobs during its construction, but it will sustain high-skill, high-wage jobs during its operation.”
Cr Carpenter welcomed the news, giving the facility 100 per cent backing.
"This announcement is a win-win for Geraldton and the Mid West. Besides the immediate economic benefits, it will help in leveraging further funding from other areas of industry and government – particularly in relation to renewable energy opportunities," Cr Carpenter said.
Senator Carr said that if Australia is successful in hosting the SKA, it will bring enormous economic and scientific benefits to Geraldton and WA more broadly.
"The Rudd Government will continue to do all it can to promote WA as the world's best core site to host one of the world's great science projects," Senator Carr said.
The SKA is a large-scale, new-generation radio telescope with a discovery potential that is 10,000 greater than current instruments. A decision on the final site is expected in 2012. Senator Carr visited the proposed SKA site with the WA Government yesterday.
The Geraldton facility is planned to be completed in 2011 with the design tender opportunity to be announced shortly.
Media contact: Patrick Pantano, Minister’s Office, 0417 181 936