Australian Red Cross Blood Service launches multimillion-dollar processing facility

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is today opening the largest blood processing facility in the Southern Hemisphere, ensuring we continue to have one of the safest blood supply systems in the world.

“This is a state-of-the-art facility which will process 30% of the nation’s blood supply, highlighting our status as a world leader,” said the Blood Service Chief Executive, Jennifer Williams.

“The new Melbourne Processing Centre houses cutting-edge testing and processing technologies to ensure our blood supply is as safe as possible.

“Our international visitors have described it as the most advanced facility in the world and I believe it is; we are very proud of it.”

The one-time car factory has been extensively redesigned into one of the most modern processing facilities in the world and it will process all of Victoria’s and Tasmania’s blood; about 1500 blood donations per day.

Federal and state governments have funded the development of the 16,000 m² Melbourne Processing Centre, providing $213 million for the purchase of the land, the design, build and fit-out of the site.

“This is a significant investment in the future of the Blood Service, and the federal government is delighted to support this vital work,” said Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Catherine King, who officially opened the building.

The facility has been designed to withstand an earthquake of seven on the Richter Scale and can operate for four days without external water, gas, electricity and sewerage. It contains more than 1000 tonnes of steel - some of it thicker than that on the Sydney Harbour Bridge - and it also contains more than 200 km of electrical cabling.

The centre has also been designed to be environmentally responsible, minimising energy use and carbon emissions where possible. It used more than 1 km of recycled timber and includes a 55,000 L rainwater tank.

“It is a fabulous building and a vital piece of health infrastructure that will enable us to keep improving how we test, process and distribute blood,” Williams said.

“The Melbourne Processing Centre completes our current major capital infrastructure development program, which has seen the modernisation of processing in Brisbane, Sydney and now Melbourne.”