Our Annual Report is now available and features information on our achievements and activity from the last year, including 2020-21 highlights, major projects and milestones, overall agency performance and compliance with policy and legislation.
Featured on the cover of the Annual Report is one project we’re particularly excited to discuss – the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Located in the Murchison region, SKA is a global, multi-generational €2 billion project to build the world’s largest radio telescope in WA, securing an opportunity for Australian organisations and scientists to innovate at the cutting edge of computing and astronomy.
The satellite array will cast its gaze back to the first billion years of the universe using thousands of low-frequency antennas, looking at the formation of the first stars and galaxies in an effort to provide insight into the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
The Strategic Projects, Industry Development and Science and Innovation divisions of our department provided support to SKA in a number of ways including the site lease and infrastructure upgrades, coordinating the participation of Western Australian businesses in the SKA procurement process, and by managing the Western Australian Government’s investment in the key organisations which secured SKA for our State, the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) and the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre.
There’s more information on this project inside the Annual Report 2020-21, along with other exciting developments, initiatives and investments happening around WA. Click the document link below to read the report online or to download and read at your convenience.
