World-class UQ marine research station near completion

South-East Queensland will become a focal point for world-class marine research with the construction of a new University of Queensland facility on North Stradbroke Island due for completion in September this year.

The University of Queensland's Centre for Marine Studies user representative, Associate Professor Jack Greenwood, said the new Station would provide high-quality research facilities for local and international researchers and industry interested in studying Moreton Bay and its islands.

The facility, to be known as the Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre, has been funded by the Port of Brisbane Corporation, sandminer Consolidated Rutile Limited (CRL), DETYA, and internal University funds organised by Biological and Chemical Sciences Faculty executive dean Professor Mick McManus.

An existing facility, established in 1949 by the CSIRO and run by the University of Queensland since 1959 is being replaced by three, two-level buildings providing accommodation, research laboratories and administration facilities.

Dr Greenwood said the Station's excellent laboratory facilities, consisting of an undergraduate and high school teaching area, a wet laboratory and aquarium facility and an upper floor research laboratory for staff and postgraduate students would be accessed by partner universities and overseas university groups and researchers.

Botany Department Associate Professor Bill Dennison and Dr Greenwood's research team will use the Station as a base for studying the interaction of nutrients, marine plants, zooplankton and phytoplankton in the Bay.

Dr Dennison said Moreton Bay was a unique and complex system, supporting healthy dugong and turtle populations as well as human activity including dredging, ports, recreation and transport.

Moreton Bay is one of the most important marine resources in Australia and is recognised internationally as having exceptionally high biodiversity and for being economically important.

Dr Greenwood said the new Station would become a major part of the University's focus on marine facilities, which includes research stations at Low Isles and Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Jack Greenwood (telephone 07 3365 2504).