Publication (Media): Brumby turns first sod for new MDFRC/La Trobe building

Publication Type:	Media Release
Publication Name:	Brumby turns first sod for new MDFRC/La Trobe building

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Milligan, Ann (2004) Brumby turns first sod for new MDFRC/La Trobe building - Apr 13 2004, CRCFE, Canberra - Media Release.

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13 April, 2004

BRUMBY TURNS FIRST SOD FOR NEW
LA TROBE BUILDING

The Victorian Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development, The Hon. John Brumby, will turn the first sod to mark the start of a new building on the La Trobe University Albury-Wodonga campus on Thursday, 15 April 2004 at 11.30 am.

The $5 million Centre for Research and Training in Environmental Sciences Building is scheduled for completion in the first semester of 2005. The new building will house The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre as well as specialised University facilities.

The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) is an unincorporated joint venture between the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and CSIRO Land and Water, with support from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

MDFRC will occupy 90 per cent of the single storey building and the remainder will consist of teaching laboratories for La Trobe University students studying courses within the Department of Environmental Management and Ecology.

The Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University, Professor Michael Osborne, said the co-location of MDFRC with the Department will offer outstanding research opportunities and enhance its unique educational program.

“La Trobe, CSIRO and the MDFRC already have a strong relationship through collaborative research projects and the development of a joint research facility at La Trobe University’s Mildura campus,” Professor Osborne said.

Professor John Langford, Chairman of the MDFRC Board of Management, said the collaboration between the University and researchers at MDFRC will draw together expertise from both organisations to facilitate important research in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“Both organisations are grateful for the contribution of $1.5 million towards the project from the Victorian Government Regional Infrastructure Development Fund, administered by Minister Brumby, $1 million from the Federal Government through the Minister for Environment and Heritage and $0.45 million from CSIRO,” Professor Langford said.

The 1350 square metre brick building will be constructed by Zauner Construction of Albury. The architects are Woods Bagot Pty Ltd of Melbourne.

The new building is the second major construction project on the campus in two years. The David Mann Library was opened in 2002 and won the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Regional Prize. The architects were also Woods Bagot.

For further information, please contact: Reinhard Beissbarth, Community Relations Office, La Trobe University Albury-Wodonga campus, Tel (02) 6058 3784; Rhonda Sinclair, MDFRC, Tel: (02) 6058 2331 or 0427 548 975; or La Trobe University Public Affairs Office, Tel: (03) 9479 2316.

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