Issue 562 (March 2007) - Office of Marketing and Communications

15U Q N E W S , M A R C H 2 0 0 7Facilities at UQ’s Gatton campus.ANIMAL SCIENCE ADVANCEDUQ CONTINUES TO BUILD ITS PORTFOLIO OF WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH CENTRES WITH THECONSTRUCTION OF A NEW $33 MILLION ANIMAL SCIENCE FACILITY AT GATTON.The future profitability and security ofQueensland’s multi-billion-dollar animalindustries has received a major boostwith the awarding of a contract to develop the$33 million Centre for Advanced Animal Science(CAAS) at UQ’s Gatton campus.Leading private Queensland constructioncompany McNab has been awarded the contractto build the complex and started work last month.CAAS is a joint project between theQueensland Department of Primary Industriesand Fisheries (DPI&F) and the University.UQ’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of NaturalResources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science,Professor Roger Swift, said CAAS would boastworld-class research facilities in the areas ofanimal growth, adaptation, welfare, health andvaccines.“It will have thepotential to contributetens of millions ofdollars annually to theQueensland economythrough the applicationof groundbreakingresearch andtechnologicaldevelopments”“These are key areas of strategic investmentto ensure continued growth, diversification andprotection of Queensland’s animal industries,”Professor Swift said.“CAAS will encourage increased national andinternational collaboration between scientists inthe developed and developing world.“It will also strengthen the interactionbetween researchers and industry and ensurethat research and development leads to rapidpractical outcomes.”Acting Director-General of the DPI&FRobert Setter said CAAS would make a majorcontribution to the Queensland Government’sR&D priorities.He said the CAAS would be at the forefrontof developing smart industries, safeguardingQueensland and its environment, and capitalisingon the advantages offered by a tropical climate.“It will have the potential to contributetens of millions of dollars annually to theQueensland economy through the applicationof groundbreaking research and technologicaldevelopments,” Mr Setter said.“CAAS is part of a major redevelopment ofresearch facilities in Queensland.“It will be a centre of DPI&F research in theareas of animal production, health and welfareand biosecurity and will link to the proposeddevelopment of an Ecoscience Precinct at BoggoRoad and a Health and Food Sciences Precinctat Coopers Plains, Brisbane.“DPI&F research at the Ecoscience Precinctwill focus on improving the profitability of animalindustries while minimising environmentalimpacts through innovative biological pest controltechnologies that reduce chemical use.“At the Health and Food Science Precinct,Biosecurity will be a priority for DPI&F inprotecting the livestock industry by allowingfaster and even more accurate diagnosis ofanimal pests and diseases and their effectivemanagement.”Professor Swift said CAAS would provideadvanced education and training for futuregenerations of researchers and practitioners inthe animal industries.“CAAS complements perfectly the existinganimal infrastructure at the Gatton campus, whichincludes a modern dairy, piggery, poultry unit,equine centre and wildlife enclosure,” he said.“Proximity to the Brisbane research facilitiesand an international airport, together withQueensland’s respected animal scientists ensurethat CAAS will increase collaboration and visitsby other leading animal researchers. There is nocomparable centre elsewhere in Australia.”Animal industries are vital to the economic,social and environmental wealth of Queensland.They contribute in excess of $4 billion annuallyin gross production value and are underpinnedby an investment in people, infrastructure andresources in the vicinity of $25 billion.They also provide major employment in ruraland regional Queensland and are an importantpart of the human capital of Queensland.Mr Setter said the CAAS had been madepossible by funding from UQ, DPI&F and theQueensland Government Smart State ResearchFacilities Fund.