CQUniversity has moved to acquire the former CSIRO site in Kawana, working with the federal government over recent months to finalise a deal that will make the top-quality laboratories and facilities available to local research partners and students from as early as April this year...

"We've investigated the site and whilst it's surplus to CSIRO needs it fits well with the University's objectives shared with the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr, that researcher training is integral to the government's planning for the research sector," stated CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman about the Commonwealth-owned facility which has been on the blocks for about a year.


Professor Bowman and Professor Kyd inspect the CSIRO site

"We simply need the CSIRO facility for our younger, maturing researchers and our experienced, supervising professors. These labs will have an immediate impact on CQUni researchers working on vaccines to prevent middle ear infections; our innovations in plant biofuels, new commercial crop plants and farm water management; and the expansion of our research programs in work-related fatigue and OH&S management as well as population health issues," said Professor Bowman.

"This is a period of growth from CQUniversity. We're investing $50million in existing facilities and will do more as we increase our delivery of science and allied health courses in 2012," Professor Bowman added.

The site, which had been considered by Rockhampton City Council, houses first-class laboratories ideally suited to the above programs and other areas suited to primary industries research, as it was once home to cattle research activities. The facility is considered by researchers at the University to be a prime resource that would benefit students and associates of the University.

"The labs have been recently refurbished and are in excellent condition. We can and would walk in there tomorrow and start setting up," explained CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Research) Professor Jennelle Kyd.

The University says the CSIRO's Rendell Labs should be retained as a research facility.  There is a major shortage of this quality of facility to attract and retain high quality researchers in Rockhampton and the cost of a new construction of similar quality facilities exceeds their real value as an ordinary building.  For the University, this will be an important complementary and research-dedicated space alongside the need to develop on-campus clinical teaching spaces for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and podiatry work, as well as undergraduate studies in oral health which will be introduced by the middle of next year.

"This acquisition has implications for the physical health and well-being of Central Queenslanders. CQUniversity research makes a difference to our communities and these labs would enable CQUniversity to expand its investment in areas of health research critically important to the entire region," said Professor Bowman.

The University's long-term delivery of paramedic, nursing, and other health courses is largely dependent on that space -- right across the Bruce Highway from the University campus -- being made immediately available for research.

CQUniversity is hopeful an agreement will be reached soon.

"The Federal Government has invested millions in building those scientific labs ... When this agreement is finalised CQUniversity will be able to make good on that initial taxpayer investment by continuing scientific exploration and learning and by building-up the labs," Professor Bowman stated.