Project Banksia vaccine facility, Australia

Project Banksia is a multi-product biotechnology facility featuring high operational sustainability standards. The project will bolster Australia’s influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity and improve the country’s vaccine independence and security. 

A vital public health development 

CSL Seqirus, the world’s second-largest flu vaccine provider, announced in 2020 plans to develop a new, large-scale biotech manufacturing facility. Set across three CSL sites (Tullamarine, Broadmeadows and Woodend), the network will produce influenza vaccines to combat global flu pandemics and for seasonal vaccination programmes.  

The world-class facility at the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport Business Park will use innovative technology to produce seasonal and pandemic cell-based influenza vaccines, using CSL Seqirus’ vaccine adjuvant technology (MF59®). This is the world’s only approved human vaccine for Q fever and antivenoms for venomous creatures native to Australia.

The facility is on schedule to be operational in 2026 and will support Australia’s preparedness and responsiveness in a future pandemic crisis. The new facility bolsters CSL Seqirus’ and Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability and underpins a long-term partnership with the Federal Government for the supply of seasonal and pandemic influenza pandemic vaccines, antivenoms and Q fever vaccine.    

Developing an integrated project schedule 

Working closely with CSL Seqirus, we are operating as a trusted partner to deliver early site feasibility and procurement strategy advice and are providing critical project management capabilities, controls and performance throughout the delivery phases.

We have also developed and managed the project’s integrated schedule. This provides CSL Seqirus with a holistic overview of project timelines and the ability to identify areas of concern in advance. It also supplies necessary information to external health regulators, ensuring confidence in overall project success.  

Prioritising sustainability and green building   

With high sustainability targets, construction involved carbon capture through low-carbon embodied concrete. We worked with the build and design team to install a solar farm - 590KW capacity has been installed to date.

All steel used in the construction was manufactured in Australia and a focus was put on procuring locally manufactured specialist equipment. The site is Well Building Standard accredited and set to achieve a 5-star Green Star rating, the first manufacturing project to achieve such accreditation in Australia.