Ngarlbugala 2023 SKA-Low update
Happy holidays from SKAO
Two people wearing novelty Christmas glasses with reindeer ears, red noses and santa hats stand under a sign saying ‘You are now entering a Radio Quiet Zone for radio astronomy’. It’s a bright sunny day in an outback scene with bright blue skies and red dirt below.
Safety team Rob Grazziadelli (right) and Karen Watherston were in the silly season spirit at the radio quiet signage on the way to site. Credit: SKAO.
As I’m sure you will agree, 2023 has flown by. It has been one of the most – if not the most – significant years for the SKA in Australia, as we commenced construction of the SKA-Low telescope at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.
The early part of the year saw extensive work on site in preparation for the start of construction work. This included starting the immensely time-consuming surveying, pegging and marking of hundreds of kilometres of roads and tracks for the 512 station locations, buildings and related infrastructure. We commenced actual groundwork in the middle of the year to establish the construction support facilities, including the 100-bed ‘fly camp’ and the 200 person construction camp, as well as infrastructure facilities such as the borrow pits, water bores and turkey’s nests.
Much of the work has been performed by a combination of Wajarri and local contractors. It’s gratifying to see individuals and businesses in the Mid West start to see the rewards of having the project in the region, as well as the commitment of the SKAO, our collaborators and some of our larger contractors to ensure they are delivering benefits to the local community.
On behalf of the SKAO and all our project partners, I want to extend my gratitude for the support – and more particularly the forbearance – of the residents of the Murchison Shire, who have been disrupted by the project, particularly with all our truck traffic through the region. Your patience with our construction is greatly appreciated and will reap many benefits in the long term.
A snowman with smile and carrot nose to the left of a large sign with ‘SKAO global headquarters’ in large text.
It might be Ngarlbugala at the observatory but it’s definitely Jandangga at the SKAO headquarters in Manchester! Credit: SKAO.
Wishing you all the best for the festive season, and a very happy new year and 2024.
Ant Schinckel, SKA-Low Construction Director, SKAO