Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Assistant Minister to the Minister for the Public Service, I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Construction of National Collections Building, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, ACT.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is proposing to construct a new national collections building as well as minor alterations to the existing herbarium building at its Black Mountain science and innovation park site in Canberra.

These works will enable CSIRO to develop a collections precinct that will accommodate 13 million specimens comprising Australia's national research collections. These collections represent a significant research infrastructure and underpin research in a range of fields, including agriculture, biosecurity, biodiversity and climate change. The works will provide fit-for-purpose specimen storage vaults, research laboratories, curation facilities and office workspace. The estimated cost of these works is $70 million, excluding GST. The works must be referred to, considered by and reported on to both houses of parliament by the Public Works Committee before work may commence. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction activity is expected to commence in January 2022, with completion expected in August 2023. I commend the motion to the House.

Question agreed to.