Watpac Limited (‘Watpac’ or ‘Group’) today announced it has been awarded an $83 million contract from ANSTO to design and construct the Nuclear Medicine Molybdenum-99 facility (ANM Mo99) in Lucas Heights, New South Wales.
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| The new facility will significantly increase ANSTO’s capacity to produce the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo99). |
The high-tech ANM Mo99 facility will supply critical life-saving radioisotope molybdenum-99 to healthcare providers throughout Australia and overseas, and will enhance ANSTO as a major international supplier of Mo99. Watpac Limited Chief Executive Officer Martin Monro said the Group is proud to be involved in the delivery of such a significant national medical science facility.
“Watpac is very pleased to be appointed the head contractor for this world-class nuclear medicine facility, which will draw upon the Group’s extensive experience in delivering complex health and science projects,” Mr Monro said.
“During the past two years, Watpac Construction has delivered, or commenced work, on new health and science infrastructure totalling well in excess of $1 billion along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
“This project is a welcome addition to our workbook and reinforces our considerable expertise in the design and delivery of major infrastructure for technology-intensive industries in these sectors.”
The new multi-level 4,250 square metre facility will significantly increase ANSTO’s capacity to produce the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo99) – an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in more than 45million nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures each year worldwide.
ANSTO has been producing Mo99 and Tc-99m for approximately 40 years and provides half a million patient doses per annum. One in two Australians will have a nuclear medicine treatment in their lifetime. Watpac Construction’s New South Wales State Manager, Ric Wang, said the project further bolsters the Group’s growing portfolio of projects in the region.
“Design work will commence in February 2014 and construction is scheduled for completion in early 2016,” Mr Wang said.
“The building will be classified as a nuclear installation and therefore will be designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and Australian Non-proliferation and Safeguards Office.”
Watpac is a listed national contractor with more than three decades of experience in delivering landmark buildings in Australia’s sports, health and science, defence, education, residential, commercial, retail and industrial sectors.
Recent health and science projects include the $90 million Cochlear Global Headquarters in Sydney and the $240 million Transnational Research Institute and Biopharmaceuticals Australia Biologics Plant of the Future in Brisbane. Current projects include the $148 million Gold Coast Private Hospital, the $65 million Port Macquarie Base Hospital Expansion Project in New South Wales and the $40 million Phase 3 of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane.
The Group has also been awarded the Stage 1 managing contractor services for the new Mater Private Hospital Springfield, west of Brisbane.
A copy of Watpac’s press release is available here.
Published: 22/01/2014