Community information update next month on joint building project

Community information update next month on joint building project

The University of Queensland and CSIRO will hold a community information update/sausage sizzle to answer questions about the proposed Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB).

The information update/sausage sizzle will be held on Saturday, December 4 from 2-4pm at the Senate Car Park, off the Carmody Road roundabout, Chancellors Place, St Lucia. The University's IMB web site will also be launched.

Residents will be able to speak to representatives of the University, CSIRO and Daryl Jackson Architects in an informal environment. Also attending will be State MP for Indooroopilly Denver Beanland and Brisbane City Councillor for Toowong Judy Magub.

A model and plans will be available along with posters briefly outlining the research to be undertaken at the Institute.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the development of the Institute had reached a stage in design and planning where residents could access detailed information.

"The Institute is very important to Queensland. It will ensure our community shares in the potential for bioscience. This will improve quality of life through the development of clean energy sources, improved food production and radically increasing both the life span and overall health of the population," Professor Hay said.

IMB research projects include work to prevent one of Queensland's major killers, skin cancer, and on cystic fibrosis.

"It is important that a balance be struck in developments such as the Institute between the need to continually search for better ways of doing things through research, and the legitimate concerns and issues which local communities near such facilities raise," Professor Hay said.

"The University and CSIRO, as the joint project developers, are committed to an ongoing dialogue with the community about this project. It is important the University informs local residents so they know what is occurring in their neighbourhood.

"The community information update will provide people with access to some of the many individuals involved in this project and they will be able to discuss any issues in a friendly and informal manner."

Other representatives to attend will include Professor Hay; UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield; Chief of CSIRO's Tropical Agriculture Dr Elizabeth Heij; CSIRO's architect planner John Takats; IMB Co-Directors Professors John Mattick and Peter Andrews; Deputy Director Dr Ian Taylor; Architect Mark Roehrs from Daryl Jackson Pty Ltd; Project Manager Peter Sampson; and UQ Director of Property and Facilities Alasdair McClintock.

All interested parties are invited to attend.

For further information call Jan King at the Office of Marketing and Communications on 3365 1120.