SKA bid strengthened

Changes to enhance radio-quiet protections in Western Australia have put the state closer to realising its dream of becoming the host site for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) established the Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone in 2005.

The Zone protects sensitive radio astronomy equipment located at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, around 200 km east of Meekatharra, from unwanted radio communication interferance.

Now ACMA has decided to enhance the protections to provide greater clarity and certainty to the arrangements that protect radio astronomy services.

The Minister for Science and Innovation John Day has welcomed the move.

Mr Day said the decision to enhance the protections on the network improves WA’s chances of securing the A$2.2b project.

“The final site decision is approaching and this investment will boost WA’s international credibility as the best location to host the full SKA. It is also an excellent example of how strategic decisions can benefit both science and the community,” he said.

WA’s Agent General to Europe, Kerry Sanderson AO says the move will make the state’s bid to host the project even more impressive.

“This decision illustrates the strong commitment to this project at all levels of Government and the determination to support the best possible science”

If WA is chosen for the core array, the project will also benefit the locate community. There are plans afoot to build new roads, power and fibre optic infrastructure that will link the project to the world.

Several residents in the region will also gain access to high speed broadband in exchange for housing repeater huts on their properties.

The SKA project involves more than 70 institutions in 20 countries in the development of the world’s largest radio telescope. Australia- New Zealand and a group of nine African countries led by the Republic of South Africa are vying to host the SKA.

The final decision on which country will host the SKA is expected later this financial year.

 

 

IMAGE: Barry Turner (CSIRO), Robin Boddington (CSIRO/Curtin University), and the Minister for Science and Innovation John Day at the Murchison Radio Astronomy Telescope.