Ventia has been selected for a $200 million contract for works at the Square Kilometre Array site, with the seven-year project to have a peak workforce of nearly 200.
Ventia has been selected for a $200 million contract for works at the Square Kilometre Array site, with the seven-year project to have a peak workforce of nearly 200.
Federal Industry Minister Ed Husic announced the contract at a ground-breaking ceremony for the $3 billion multi-national science development this morning.
It will be the world's largest radio telescope, with 131,000 antennas to be installed in the Murchison region; while a second core will be built in South Africa.
Those antennas are shaped like Christmas trees, about 2 metres tall each.
Ventia will undertake works to get the Western Australian site ready for the antennas, which will then be installed from late next year or early in 2024.
That will include power and fibre works and construction of buildings for equipment.
The company said the contract was valued at $200 million, although the government had announced a $320 million figure.
The contractor will also build capability in the local traditional owner workforce, the Wajarri Yamaji people, with training and other opportunities.
The telescope will be built in stages, with the final antennas to be in place by around 2030, if all goes to plan.
Mr Husic said the SKA project would lead to about $1.8 billion of foreign cash flows into Australia over 30 years, and nearly 350 jobs.
The peak construction workforce will be more than 180 people.
The federal government last year committed nearly $400 million to the project.
"Australia is perfectly equipped to partner on big science and advanced digital projects," Mr Husic said.
"I love the potential the SKA has to fire up the public's imagination."
It comes after a land use agreement with traditional owners was finalised earlier this year, after more than six years of negotiations.
The telescope will be more powerful than any previously built, and will give scientists the opportunity to see further into space, and time, than ever before.
The new contract is Ventia's second in recent weeks after winning a $150 million contract extension with BHP's iron ore business.
To read more about the SKA project, see the Limitless special publication in the upcoming 12 December edition of Business News.
