The Australian Synchrotron project has scored another AUD$5 million funding for the initial suite of beamlines from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), which joins the University of Melbourne, Monash University, CSIRO and MiniFAB as a foundation partner.

The contribution brings the total raised so far in support of constructing the initial suite of beamlines to more than $20 million of the estimated $49 million required, said Victorian treasurer and minister for innovation John Brumby, in addition to the $157 million provided by the state government to build the synchrotron itself.

More funding is expected to flow in for the beamlines in the near future, from a combination of universities and scientific organisations, other governments including potentially the New Zealand government, and the private sector.

"At this stage there is no call for additional state government funding," Brumby said today.

Brumby also noted that to date the synchrotron project was running on time and on budget, with all major contracts for the synchrotron machine now awarded. The building itself is expected to be finished in February 2005, prior to the installation and commissioning of the machine. Installation of beamlines is expected to begin in 2006 with the facility open for business in 2007. "I'm totally confident that this timeline will be achieved," Brumby said.

ANSTO executive director Dr Ian Smith said the organisation was delighted to be involved, and looked forward to being able to share its expertise in beamline development.

"ANSTO was keen to be part of this project as we could see great complementarity between the synchrotron and [our] research reactor facility," he said.