New UQ marine research station opened

The Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie and The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay today opened a new world-class marine research station.

The $2.6 million Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre, on North Stradbroke Island south east of Brisbane, will allow scientists and students to stay on the island and study a fascinating range of coastal marine flora and fauna.

Professor Hay said the new station would provide high quality research facilities for locally-based and overseas scientists.

'Moreton Bay is one of the most important marine resources in Australia and is known around the world as having exceptionally high biodiversity as well as high economic value,' he said.

'The new Station is an important part of the University's focus on marine facilities, which includes research stations at Low Isles and Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.'

Director of the Centre for Marine Studies, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said Moreton Bay was a unique and complex system, supporting the world's most southern herd of dugong as well as many rare, vulnerable and endangered species of turtles, dolphins, whales, sharks and birds.

'It is also an important area for industries involved in fishing, recreation, transport, manufacturing and urban development. The new Station is a wonderful resource to address issues relating to the interaction of human activity and the coastal environment,' he said.

'Apart from its location the principal advantage of the architecturally designed facility is that it allows the simultaneous conduct of teaching and advanced research. We have already established important programs involving the local community and greatly appreciate their support for the project.'

The Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre comprises three, two-level buildings providing accommodation, research laboratories and an undergraduate and high school teaching area. A research and teaching aquarium will be completed later this year.

The new facility replaces an old research station first built by the CSIRO on North Stradbroke Island in 1949, and run by The University of Queensland since 1959.

The project has been funded by The University of Queensland, the Port of Brisbane Corporation, Consolidated Rutile Limited (CRL), The Federal Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs and the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

For further information contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications on 3365 1088 or 0413 380 012 or p.mccutcheon@mailbox.uq.edu.au