Uni's $45m study centre
DAVID KILLICK
May 13, 2009 04:00am
PRINCES Wharf No. 2 will be transformed into a $45 million Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies.
It will combine all the University of Tasmania's marine and Antarctic research and teaching on the one waterfront site
Announced in last night's Federal Budget, the institute is expected to become part of a burgeoning marine science precinct on Hobart's waterfront, along with the CSIRO centre next door.
"The University of Tasmania will construct an iconic building on Hobart's waterfront to house the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies," the Budget papers said.
"The facility is expected to create a critical mass of marine scientists in Hobart allowing co-location of research teams in a marine science precinct. It will build a platform for Australia's research in temperate water, Southern Ocean and Antarctic marine science."
University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Daryl Le Grew last night said he was ecstatic at the news, which was part of $90 million in new federal funding for the university.
He said development of the wharf had the support of Tas Ports, Hobart City Council and the State Government; and planning would follow a public consultation process.
The building could be operating with 300 staff and students as soon as 2011.
"We'll be refurbishing the existing shed and building a new building no higher than the shed on the apron along Castray Esplanade," Professor Le Grew said.
"Inside the existing shed we'll probably put a mezzanine floor, and refurbish to make it much more transparent; an interpretation centre, maybe an aquarium for some of our research species ... it could be really quite exciting."
An integrated marine observing system hosted at the university also will receive $52 million in the next four financial years.
http://www.themercury.com.au/art ... _tasmania-news.html |
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