Minister for Public Works and Housing and Member for Rockhampton, Robert Schwarten, today announced the State Government will commit $312,000 over three years to support solar cell research at Central Queensland University.

Mr Schwarten, who presented the first $104,000 cheque this morning at the University to Professor Davies, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for (Academic and Research), said it was a worthy project aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of vehicles.

\"In June, the university made a proposal to QFleet to provide assistance and support for the research project,\" he said.

\"I\'m very pleased that the Department of Public Works through the State Government fleet manager, QFleet, is supporting this research.

\"The research project being undertaken right here in Rockhampton will help Queensland Government\'s ongoing development towards environmentally responsibly vehicle management.

\"QFleet will be a partner in this research and will be provided with six-monthly research reports on the progress of the project. \"At the end of the three years the University hopes to have a solar cell that is capable of being developed further to power a car engine.\" Mr Schwarten said the CQU research complemented QFleet\'s efforts to green the Government fleet through its extensive environmental programs.

\"The State Government is already delivering excellent environmental benefits for the Queensland community through minimising QFleet\'s impact on the environment as well as delivering cost saving in the long term,\" he said.

\"We currently have 54 Toyota Prius petrol/electric hybrid passenger cars in our fleet - the most of any fleet in the country. This Hybrid fuel technology reduces fuel costs and vehicle emissions. \"QFleet was also the first government fleet involved in the trial of E10, a petrol/ethanol blended fuel and all of QFleet\'s 12,600 vehicles are signed up to the not-for-profit GreenFleet program.

\"For every QFleet vehicle, GreenFleet plants 17 native tree seedlings to combat erosion, fight salinity and help offset the effect of the fleet\'s emissions on the environment.

\"Considering our extensive commitment to the environment it makes good sense to support the CQU research project.\" Mr Schwarten said later this year the University intends to make an application for an Australian Research Council linkage to seek matching funds from the Commonwealth Government.

\"I hope the Federal government also recognises the valuable work CQU is undertaking and supports the research project,\" he said.

FURTHER INFORMATION: 4927 5299 Caption 1: Minister for Public Works and Housing and Member for Rockhampton, Robert Schwarten presents a cheque for solar cell research to Vice-Chancellor Professor Glenice Hancock.

Caption 2: Professor Ron Warrener (pictured) and Professor Doug Bulter, from CQU\'s Centre for Molecular Architecture, are key to the solar cell research funded by the State Government.