Sensational-Adelaide.com

The 25,000 square metre building will house the headquarters for the world class health and medical research centre and will be operational from mid-2013.

On Wednesday, 2 February SAHMRI Chairman Mr Raymond Spencer joined the Hon John Hill MP, Minister for Health, and members of the media to highlight the progress being made on the site.

During the weekend of 29 January, a 73 metre Jaso crane was erected on the site's southern end, the first of two that will be used in the construction of the Institute. The crane is the largest of its kind currently operating in Australia.

Since site works began in February 2010, over 66,000 tonnes of soil have been removed and 330 in-ground columns have been completed to support the facility. Headway has also been made on the new eastern access road, which will allow vehicles to enter from North Terrace to the rear of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI site.

Construction of the three lower levels of SAHMRI is expected to be completed by the middle of 2011, bringing the building up to street level. Work will then start on the upper six floors of the building, including the new plaza.

The on-site workforce will be at its highest in 2012, with around 300 people working on the SAHMRI site. Overall, it's expected that up to 1400 direct jobs will have been created from the project.

Kaurna stoush over railyards

WORK has come to a halt at the SA Health and Medical Research Institute as Aboriginal groups enter into a stoush with the State Government.

Court dismisses challenge to North Tce work

A court has dismissed a challenge from a member of an Aboriginal community against construction work on a North Terrace building site in Adelaide.

Kaurna elder Jeffrey Newchurch argued traditional owners were not properly consulted before the South Australian Government approved construction of a medical research institute, which will be next to Adelaide's new hospital.

The Supreme Court heard the Kaurna people believed there were Aboriginal remains at the site which should not be disturbed.

The court heard parties had failed to reach agreement about having Aboriginal monitors on the site during excavation work and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Grace Portolesi authorised the works without them.

Chief Justice John Doyle dismissed Mr Newchurch's challenge, finding the Minister took all reasonable steps to consult stakeholders.

Pikey wrote:In an odd move, the second crane base has been removed. It's now sitting up near North terrace near the temporary on site offices.

Not sure what's going on?