This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE southern hemisphere’s first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility will be built in Victoria after the state government reached an agreement with the federal government and Moderna.
Under the deal, Moderna’s new manufacturing and finishing facilities, and Australian research centre will all be based in Victoria, providing supply surety. The facility will be capable of producing up to 25 million vaccine doses per year from 2024, with the capacity to scale up to 100 million doses per year to combat future pandemics.
A number of sites are being considered for the location of the facility.
Up to 500 jobs will be created during construction, as will around 500 ongoing roles.
The facility may also be used in the treatment of cancer, rare diseases, cellular engineering and protein-replacement therapy.
Victoria is responsible for nearly 60% of Australia’s pharmaceutical exports.
The state government announced up to $400 million in funding for a new Australian Institute of Infectious Disease in Victoria earlier this year.
“This is a huge announcement not just for Victoria, but the whole country – being able to manufacture mRNA vaccines and treatments locally will lock in vaccine security both on our shores and across our region,” Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino said.
One year ago, the federal government and Seqirus struck a $1 billion agreement to develop a new biotech facility in Melbourne’s Tullamarine that will accelerate the creation and production of influenza vaccines, in a bid to bolster responses to any future pandemics and give Australians priority access to treatments.
Frasers Property Industrial has just leased a 12,100 sqm industrial facility to Besix Watpac that will be used as a headquarters to support its construction of the neighbouring 60,000 sqm vaccine manufacturing facility.
Also triggered by the pandemic, a 1,000-bed hotel quarantine facility is being built in the northern suburb of Mickleham. Multiplex is aiming to see the first 500 beds delivered and operational by the end of 2021, with works beginning in August and 80% of the buildings to be prefabricated off-site.
