Heron Island rebuild nears completion

Students and researchers from around the world will once again have unparalleled access to the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef following the opening of new accommodation at The University of Queensland’s Heron Island Research Station.

Boasting a capacity of 80 beds plus adjoining tutor dormitories, the student accommodation forms part of a $9 million reconstruction of the station’s research and teaching facilities following a fire in March 2007.

The new student accommodation, along with the rebuilt teaching and research facilities, will be officially opened early next year.

Bookings are now being accepted for large research groups, conferences, workshops and university and high school field courses.

UQ Centre for Marine Studies infrastructure manager David Harris said seven research labs, three teaching labs, two instrument rooms, and extensive aquaria infrastructure, seminar and computer rooms were among the new facilities’ “highlights”.

“The new buildings are similar in basic lay-out to the original, but we have made improvements in design and orientation wherever possible,” Mr Harris said.

This semester, US and Australian educational groups – totalling more than 480 students – will experience the crystal clear waters and pristine conditions situated right on the station’s doorstep.

UQ Centre for Marine Studies senior lecturer Dr Sophie Dove, who accompanied the first student group to the island in June, said she was impressed by the new accommodation.

“The new facilities are outstanding,” Dr Dove said.

“I look forward with great anticipation to making use of new teaching and research facilities.

“One of the best features of HIRS is its proximity to the reef and now the new facilities just make the whole experience that much better.”

The HIRS official opening, planned for February, is set to attract about 100 dignitaries, including representatives from both the state and federal government and UQ, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield.

Station and island tours are expected to make up part of the opening celebrations.

Heron Island Research Station (HIRS) is located at the leeward end of a coral cay on a large 10km long, 5 km wide platform reef, 80 kilometres east of Gladstone and 600 km north of Brisbane.

Its location permits easy access to 290 species of coral, 900 species of fish and the cay’s rich terrestrial flora and fauna. These attractions draw students and researchers from universities world-wide.

Media: More information:
Mr David Harris (07) 3365 7020 / d.harris@cms.uq.edu.au
Mr Robert Mackay-Wood (07) 3346 9041 / r.mackay-wood@cms.uq.edu.au
HIRS reception (07) 4978 1399 / hirs@uq.edu.au