JCU IN NAIF DEAL
AN ULTRA- modern maths and science centre at James Cook University in Townsville will be the first project in the state to receive a loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
The Federal Government will today announce it has committed up to $ 96 million through the NAIF for a Technology Innovation Complex designed to boost enrolment in engineering courses at JCU’s Townsville campus.
The project will be the first in Queensland to receive a loan from the NAIF, provided the State Government now finalises the agreement so the approved funds can be advanced.
The 10,000sq m complex is part of a broader seven- year plan by JCU to modernise its Townsville facilities, most of which have not been updated in decades.
JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said the loan would help transform the Townsville campus and “usher in a new era” for the university.
“The Technology Innovation Complex will deliver leading edge science, technology, engineering and maths ( STEM) innovation, research and educational facilities for North Queensland,” she said.
“It will help build a workforce for the future economy and position North Queensland and Australia as a global leader in the tropics and help drive prosperity in the North for years to come.”
Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan said the new complex would provide “contemporary facilities” for STEM research and studies.
“JCU is establishing a focus of engineering for the tropics and the Technology Innovation Complex will be the centrepiece of an innovation hub in which undergraduate students, industry partners, postgraduate researchers and start- up businesses will collaborate,” he said.
Senator Canavan said attracting more young Austra- lians into engineering fields would support the country’s resources sector.
“We have built our mining sector by harnessing the efforts of some of the world’s best engineers trained here in Australia,” he said. “This new facility will help us repeat that success in the future.”
LNP senator Ian Macdon- ald said he was pleased to see NAIF making a loan commitment that would significantly benefit the economy of North Queensland.
“I am strongly committed to promoting further development in North Queensland and believe this JCU project will attract industry, generate jobs and retain graduates in the region,” he said. “It will particularly help JCU attract more regional and international students in engineering, which, in turn, will boost expertise in a profession so vital to infrastructure development and innovation in Northern Australia and throughout our part of the world.”
Senator Macdonald said he believed Queensland regularly had the highest number of active projects in the NAIF pipeline, as well as projects in the advanced “due diligence” phase.
“This is not surprising, considering North Queensland has the highest population and most developed infrastructure in Northern Australia,” he said.
Construction of the threelevel complex is expected to create about 270 jobs.