[Aqualist] see also the ANSTO announcement

[Simon Haberle]

Media Release 13 May 2009

Nuclear benefits in 2009 Federal Budget

The 2009 Federal Budget has recognised the importance of nuclear science 
and technology as ANSTO* today welcomed funding of $62 million for new 
neutron research instruments in its OPAL reactor facility in Sydney’s 
south, and for new funding to help establish a Centre for Accelerator 
Science.

ANSTO’s Chief Executive Dr Adi Paterson said the funding would 
significantly enhance Australia’s research capabilities in a variety of 
areas, from biology to climate change. He also said it would help 
Australia’s largest single research expenditure – ANSTO’s OPAL reactor – 
to reach its potential of being one of the three leading research 
reactors in the world ($37million).

“The Centre for Accelerator Science funding ($25 million) will enable an 
upgrade of current ANSTO accelerators at a time when ANSTO is looking to 
broaden its support for accelerator science,” Dr Paterson said.

“This funding will support ANSTO’s aim of working in partnership with 
other research organisations in a national network of accelerators to 
maximise the benefits this important infrastructure can offer.

“I am very pleased the Federal Government has recognised the benefits 
that science provides in this budget. Accelerators are key tools for use 
in nuclear safeguards and forensics, medical physics, materials science 
and radiation physics so ensuring Australia has top facilities for its 
scientists, which is very important.”


Background

Centre for Accelerator Science

Australian researchers (from all 37 Australian universities, plus other 
agencies such as CSIRO, the Department of the Environment, Water, 
Heritage and the Arts, state and local government bodies, and overseas 
collaborators and customers) use ANSTO’s accelerator facilities to 
measure, very accurately, minute amounts of a particular substance in a 
much larger volume.

Such measurements are essential to carry out studies in: climate and 
environmental science; nuclear safeguards and forensics; materials 
science; medical physics; and radiation physics.

Accelerator-based science is more important than ever to the study of 
the challenges of climate change and particle pollution, and to nuclear 
non-proliferation.

These accelerator facilities are part of Australia’s national research 
infrastructure. One of the two accelerators used for that purpose, the 
ANTARES Accelerator, is nearly 40 years old and it is increasingly more 
maintenance-intensive and expensive to operate.


This project includes a compact, low energy multi-isotope AMS 
accelerator facility with multiple ion sources and ion source test bench 
facility which would be primarily used for radiocarbon dating and heavy 
isotope analysis, including nuclear safeguards work. A second 
accelerator (a modern low-maintenance 5MV accelerator) would be acquired 
to replace the ANTARES accelerator – the primary use of which would be 
in measuring isotopes of interest for the study of climate change.


The projects will commence immediately and it is anticipated these will 
be complete by 2013


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