State-of-the-art marine research facility close to completion

State-of-the-art marine research facility close to completion

Senior industry figures will inspect progress of the University of Queensland's new $2 million marine research station being built on Stradbroke Island.

A party of representatives from the facility's key backers, the Port of Brisbane Corporation and Consolidated Rutile Limited (CRL), will tour the station on Monday, September 20 as well as surrounding sites of teaching and research interest including Amity Point and Point Lookout.

University Centre for Marine Studies researcher and visit co-ordinator Dr Ian Tibbetts said construction of the state-of-the-art Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre would be completed by October 22.

"It will be an important resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students, community groups and business people," he said.

"The purpose of the visit is to provide senior officers with an appreciation of the scale and lay-out of the facility and seek their feedback before the opening."

The party will travel from Cleveland Point (at the end of Middle Street) by Stradbroke Flyer to the Island at 9.30am on Monday, leaving via water taxi at 2.30pm. An earlier Flyer departs the Island at 11.30am. A minibus will be available to transport guests around the Island.

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.

Its excellent laboratory facilities consist of an undergraduate and high school teaching area, a wet laboratory and aquarium facility and an upper floor research laboratory.

For more information, contact Dr Ian Tibbetts (telephone 07 3365 4333) or the Office of Marketing and Communications (telephone 07 3365 3367).