Synchrotron project on track for September start

John Brumby, minister for innovation, has said the $157 million Australian synchrotron project was on track for site works to commence in September 2002 and had reached another milestone with Garry Seaborne, project director, beginning work.

"I welcome Garry Seaborne to the Australian synchrotron team and look forward to working with him as we progress this world class scientific facility to be built at Monash University's Clayton campus," Mr Brumby said.

"The Australian synchrotron facility is a key element of the Bracks government's innovation portfolio and will enable Victoria to capitalise on its emerging strengths in new knowledge-based industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental sciences and advanced manufacturing."

The $157 million project is expected to create up to 700 jobs and add as much as $65 million a year to the economy.

A synchrotron is a large hollow ring about 60 metres in diameter that produces beams of very bright light millions of times more powerful than the best conventional microscope. As a versatile analytical tool, it is used in biological and life sciences, mining, geoscience and to manufacture pharmaceuticals and new-age materials.