John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's report No. 5 2019.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Report No. 5 considers one proposal re-referred to the committee in July 2019, which had lapsed in the 45th Parliament. The proposal is for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's—known to all of us as CSIRO—Sydney consolidation project in New South Wales. CSIRO sought approval from the committee to proceed with the project to reduce surplus accommodation capacity; provide relief in managing current escalating property operating, repair and maintenance costs; and advance current and future science capabilities.

To achieve this outcome, CSIRO plans to divest its Marsfield site, close North Ryde, at the expiration of the current lease, and consolidate staff and capability to Lindfield. Built in the 1970s as a bespoke physics laboratory with an original capacity of 600 to 700 staff, the CSIRO Lindfield facility has sufficient capacity to house staff and equipment from North Ryde and Marsfield. However, the Lindfield facility will require extensive internal reconfiguration and modernisation of the existing facility to ensure the site continues to meet the current and emerging needs of CSIRO scientists. Minor works at the Mayfield and Eveleigh facilities are also included within the scope of the project. The estimated cost of this project is $107.26 million, excluding GST.

I thank members of the Public Works Committee in the current parliament for conducting the inquiry and for conducting a site visit of the Lindfield facility, and I thank those who presented and made submissions—obviously CSIRO itself and local community members, amongst others. The committee recommended that the House find it expedient that the project proceed, and I therefore commend the report to the House.