SAHMRI 2 approval paves way for SA to become international leader in cancer treatment
Commercial & General’s vision to help position South Australia at the forefront of cancer treatment is another step closer following development plan consent from the State Commission and Assessment Panel.
The firm has been given the go ahead to start constructing the $300 million SAHMRI 2, which will house the southern hemisphere’s first proton therapy unit.
Proton therapy offers precision treatment for cancer sufferers, delivering cancer-destroying protons without destroying surrounding healthy tissues – making it particularly important for young children or those with tumours close to vital organs.
Commercial & General CEO Trevor Cooke said approval to take the project to the next phase was very good news.
“It means we can get on with the job of turning an important concept into an incredible reality,” he said.
“The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research, a joint venture with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), will bring about a revolution in the treatment of Australian cancer patients and we’re enormously excited to be a part of that future.
“It will deliver the most technologically advanced precision radiation therapy ever seen in the southern hemisphere, with the capabilities to treat 1,000 patients every year.”
Commercial & General is working closely with SAHMRI to deliver the new building, which is yet to be formally named but is being referred to as SAHMRI 2.
It will sit alongside the Royal Adelaide Hospital, existing SAHMRI, the University of Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building and the University of South Australia’s Health Innovation Building as part of Adelaide’s BioMed City.
In addition to the proton therapy treatment and research bunker, SAHMRI 2 will provide world-class facilities for 400 SAHMRI researchers as well as lab and office space for biomedical companies.
“This Commercial & General – SAHMRI partnership is important because it’s an example of business and the medical sector working together to provide government with the platform to bring about significant improvements in the treatment of Australian cancer patients,” Mr Cooke said.
“What we’ve been able to do with SAHMRI is understand how advances in proton therapy technology are changing both the built form required to house these facilities and the subsequent case for investment.
“By putting those two critical elements together, we’ve been able to ensure South Australia will be at the absolute forefront of cancer treatment, further underlining the State’s burgeoning reputation as a leader in health.”
The Federal Government has committed $68 million for the purchase of the proton therapy machine while the State Government has provided $44 million to support its development and operation.
Commercial & General has more than more than $2.1 billion in projects delivered or under development across healthcare, industrial, workplace and communities including Calvary Adelaide Hospital, WEST (Football Park redevelopment), Flinders and SAPOL headquarters.
To view a fly through of the development please click here.