Antinuclear

Nuclear medicine is the nuclear lobby’s “fig leaf” – to make nuclear look good. Medical isotopes can be obtained without needing a nuclear reactor

Watpac wins $83m contract for nuclear facility http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/watpac-wins-83m-contract-for-nuclear-facility/story-fn91v9q3-1226807150273# GINA RUSHTON THE AUSTRALIAN JANUARY 22, 2014

QUEENSLAND-BASED builder Watpac has won an $83 million contract from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation to design and construct the Nuclear Molybdenum-99 facility at Lucas Heights, in Sydney’s south.

Watpac chief executive Martin Monro said the group had completed numerous health and science infrastructure projects, with developments such as the $148m Gold Coast Private Hospital and $68m Port Macquarie Base Hospital expansion under way.

“During the past two years, Watpac Construction has delivered, or commenced work, on new health and science infrastructure totalling well in excess of $1 billion along Australia’s eastern seaboard,” Mr Monro said.

The 4250sq m nuclear installation will increase ANSTO’s capacity to produce the radioisotope molybdenum-99 — an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in more than 45 million nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures annually — for domestic and offshore healthcare providers.

Lucas Heights is also home to the OPAL research reactor and other non-nuclear waste management facilities.

Design work will start next month, with construction scheduled for completion in early 2016.