UQ welcomes Parliamentary approval of $110 million UQ/CSIRO joint building project

The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Hay, has welcomed Federal Parliamentary approval of the $110million UQ/CSIRO Joint Building Project to be built at the St Lucia campus.

The Committee recommended the project proceed recognising the benefits of the joint research complex, the need to locate it at the St Lucia campus, the absence of any threat to community safety from the proposed facility and the need for community liaison procedures such as those implemented by the University and CSIRO.

Professor Hay said the approval of the $50million CSIRO component, following recommendations by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, cleared the way for demolition of existing buildings to begin in the next month.

Construction of the 35,000sqm building, which will house approximately 700 scientists and staff, should commence later in the year, he said.

"The Parliamentary Committee has made a series of recommendations which the project team will address as planning and community liaison continues over the next few months," Prof. Hay said.

"The Committee notes our ongoing consultation and liaison with the local community through the Community Liaison Committee, which met for the first time in December last year and is focussing on those issues of most concern to local residents in the detailed design and construction phases."

By 2002 the Institute for Molecular Bioscience will be housed in a state-of-the-art complex providing laboratory, advanced computer and administrative facilities. It will create 250 new jobs in the first five years.

"This project is vital for Australia's future in the emerging biotechnology industry and to Australia's ability to harness the extraordinary ability of our scientists," Prof. Hay said.

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Meredith Jackson
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The University of Queensland
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