Sod-turning signals start of work on $500m SAHMRI 2 building, housing Australia’s first cancer-blasting proton therapy unit

Work has started on the new $500 million SAHMRI 2 medical research building, which will house Australia’s first cancer-busting proton therapy unit when it is finished in 2023.

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A new era of health care in South Australia formally starts construction today as the first sod is turned on the Australian Bragg Centre housing the nation’s first proton therapy unit capable of pulverising inoperable cancer tumours.

Developer Commercial & General will own the $500 million building adjacent the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) on North Terrace and expects the project to create around 1000 construction jobs.

It will generate an estimated $1 billion in economic activity during construction by builders Lendlease, and is due for completion in late 2023.

The development had previously been estimated to cost $330 million and scheduled for completion in 2022.

The extra cost of the project and later completion date were partly blamed on major remediation ground works and dealing with installing the new technology.

The planned 12-storey building, previously nicknamed SAHMRI 2, will house around 400 researchers and will be home to the new $80 million SAiGEN Cancer Institute’s genomic and immunotherapy facility well as other tenants.

However its centrepiece will be housed deep in a three-storey underground bunker — the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research’s Pro Tom Radiance 330 unit will treat around 700 patients a year, destroying cancer cells with radiation without damaging healthy tissues by delivering powerful proton beams precisely where needed.

It means patients will no longer need to travel overseas at huge cost for lifesaving treatment.

The first patients are expected within 18 months of the building’s completion.

About half the number of future patients is expected to be children, paying around $40,000 for treatment compared to $250,000 in the US. This may be subsidised when it is available.

Revenue for treatment, including from overseas patients, will help cover SAHMRI’s rental costs.

A centrepiece of the new facility will be a cancer-blasting proton therapy unit.

A National Partnership Agreement between the Federal Government and State Government provides $68 million to fund the proton therapy facility which is in addition to the $47 million from the State Government covering the land and relocation of major rail infrastructure from the site.

Commercial & General — which developed the new $345 million Calvary Adelaide Hospital — executive chairman Jamie McClurg said major construction would commence next month and follows four years of hard work and commitment by all involved.

“Our health team has been forging strategic alliances with leading cancer centres around the world to ensure the Australian Bragg Centre can be a beacon for sufferers and researchers,” Mr McClurg said.

“What we have been able to achieve through this innovative partnership between the private sector and federal and state governments is one major multi-institutional complex with a single aim — to attack cancer from every angle for the benefit of patients now and in the future.”

Premier Steven Marshall said the project will bolster the state’s international credentials and create significant economic stimulus and jobs in the wake of COVID-19.

“This significant development will put SA on the map as a pioneer in world-leading, lifesaving proton therapy cancer treatment,” he said.

“It will also provide the state’s building industry with significant economic stimulus as we emerge from the greatest economic challenge of our time, supporting as many as 1000 jobs and generating an estimated $1 billion in economic activity during the construction phase.”

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the state-of-the-art facility will provide world-class care, closer to home.

“South Australians, and people throughout the nation, will no longer need to go overseas to get the care they need,” he said.

SAHMRI 2 will be the first proton therapy facility in the southern hemisphere.

The building and proton therapy unit is another giant stride for the SA Health and Biomedical Precinct.

The area is now home to the original “cheesegrater” SAHMRI headquarters, the $2.4 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital, $246 million University of Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building and the $247 million University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute.

It will also be home to the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Originally published as Sod-turning signals start of work on $500m SAHMRI 2 building, housing Australia’s first cancer-blasting proton therapy unit