Sunbury MP Josh Bull has welcomed the opening of a major new vaccine manufacturing facility near Melbourne Airport, saying the project will deliver hundreds of high-skilled jobs.
While sitting outside Sunbury, the Sky Rd plant – which opened Monday 2 December – is within Mr Bull’s electorate.
Mr Bull said the investment strengthened the region’s position at the forefront of advanced manufacturing.
“We’re proud to support a world-leading facility to open right here in Sunbury – delivering hundreds of high-skilled local jobs and strengthening our community’s place at the heart of Victoria’s advanced manufacturing future,” he said.
The CSL Seqirus plant is the Southern Hemisphere’s first cell-based vaccine manufacturing facility and is the result of a partnership between the Australian Government, CSL Seqirus, and the Victorian Government. It will produce products including pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines, antivenoms and Q-Fever vaccines.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Victorian Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson launched the facility, which sits within a $1bn, 10-year agreement guaranteeing local manufacture and supply of key vaccines and antivenoms through to 2036.
More than 350 jobs are expected to be created on site, with many more supported across the life sciences and medical technologies supply chain.
The plant is due to begin producing influenza vaccines early next year, with antivenoms and Q-Fever vaccines to follow by mid-year.
Melbourne now hosts two vaccine manufacturing sites producing both cell-based and mRNA vaccines.
Below, a map showing the electoral district for Sunbury.
