University seeks public input in campus development

The University of Queensland will seek public ideas and involvement in developing a number of heritage buildings on its new Ipswich campus for community access and cultural purposes.

University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Trevor Grigg, who has oversight of the campus development, has invited the UQ Ipswich Support Group to visit the site on Friday February 27 to inspect the area earmarked for the first stage of development plus a number of other key buildings.

The UQ Ipswich Support Group, which is assisting the University in the development of the campus opening in February 1999, is chaired by Pastor Mark Edwards who is President of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and Senior Minister of the Ipswich Region Community Church.

Professor Grigg said that the UQ Ipswich Support Group and the associated Friends of UQ Ipswich would play key roles in coordinating community liaison and involvement. 'Already great enthusiasm has been shown for developing the site in a way which serves both University educational purposes and wider community access,' he said.

'While educational use is a major priority, the University is seeking ideas on how some of the buildings could be adapted from their original purposes to uses such as music, theatre, art gallery space and so on,' he said.

The University campus is being established on the landmark Challinor Centre site which has an institutional history dating from 1878. Professor Grigg said the many distinctive buildings were part of the Ipswich community heritage.

He said the University had previously had very positive community interest in developing the Brisbane Customs House not just for University purposes but as a community cultural and heritage asset.

Professor Grigg believed that community interaction and involvement could add significantly to the vitality and relevance of the campus development.

The University would welcome all ideas for discussion and has planned future consultation with both the UQ support group and Friends of UQ Ipswich with a view to continuing community involvement in the campus development.

Also on February 27, the University is providing a briefing for more than 100 members of the Ipswich professional services, real estate and planning community to outline the scope of the Ipswich campus development. Planning parameters on growth in student and staff numbers will be outlined providing a basis for commercial decisions on matters such as student accommodation.

For further information contact Professor Trevor Grigg (07) 3365 7366.