Media Release
December 22 2004
UniSA leads $30 million world class centre in environmental solutions
The University of South Australia has been awarded $30 million to
head the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Contamination Assessment
and Remediation of the Environment (CARE), is a core partner in the CRC
in Advanced Automotive Technologies, and is involved in the CRC for
Polymers, and the CRC for an Internationally Competitive Pork Industry.
Of the 16 successful CRC grants announced nationally in the 2004
Selection Round of CRCs, UniSA’s success in four CRCs is a truly
outstanding achievement and one that recognises the high calibre of
research being undertaken in different fields at the University,
according to Professor Ian Davey, UniSA‘s Pro Vice Chancellor: Research
and Innovation.
The CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the
Environment will be the first centre of its kind in Australia and in
the world to focus on risk assessment and environmental remediation. Led
by
Professor Ravi Naidu, the goal of the CRC is to develop a risk based
approach to remediation leading to improved regulatory acceptance of
commercially viable and cost-effective solutions to environmental
contamination.
A significant feature of the research is a national program designed to
solve difficult and challenging air, land and water contamination
problems involving site owners, regulators, consultants and research
providers. The data generated during these studies will be used for
further development of the Australian National Environmental Protection
Measure, according to Professor Naidu.
“We will develop monitoring tools for contaminant groups including heavy
metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, industrial solvents, persistent organics
such as pesticides, explosives and others such as asbestos,” Professor
Naidu said.
The CRC has international links with universities in USA, UK, Germany,
Switzerland, Hong Kong, China and New Zealand. It involves all industry
sectors and brings together core partners including the Department of
Defence, the Australian Institute of Petroleum, IPOH Pacific Ltd and
Sensoron, as well as core international partner, HLM, and with support
from the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority. The main
universities include UniSA, the University of Queensland, University of
Technology, Sydney, and Southern Cross University. The CRC will have
significant nodes in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and
Victoria.
Professor Naidu believes that the CRC will make a substantial
contribution to science, the environment and the economy, and offer real
benefits, not only for South Australia and nationally, but also for the
global community.
UniSA will lead the SA Node of the CRC for Advanced Automotive
Technology, with Professor Ross Bensley from the Centre for Advanced
Manufacturing Research as the main contact.
This CRC will be managed by nodes in South Australia and Victoria as
these states have the major automotive manufacturing and supply base in
the nation. It will provide opportunities for the automotive industry to
work with research providers in design, engineering and manufacturing to
enhance the industry’s international competitiveness by reducing concept
to product cycle times, improving manufacturing flexibility and
efficiency, and developing new material systems for weight reduction,
increased safety and greater functionality.
The SA Node will take a leading role in at least two of the research
themes as well as the education and training agenda, and will work
collaboratively with other research institutions to provide a holistic
approach to issues across state boundaries. Core companies involved in
the CRC include Holden, Mitsubishi, Shefenacher, Air International and
Australian Arrow.
UniSA is a supporting partner in the CRC for Polymers, with
Professor Hans Griesser from the Ian Wark Research Institute as the main
contact. The CRC will conduct leading edge research to deliver the
technically advanced polymeric materials and polymer engineering
required to transform Australian industries such as manufacturing,
biotechnology, agriculture, and mining and energy.
Professorial Research Fellow in Nutritional Physiology, Professor Peter
Howe, is the key contact for UniSA’s involvement in the CRC for an
Internationally Competitive Pork Industry. The CRC aims to reduce
production costs for high quality pork through more reliable and
consistent protein and energy supplies through innovative grain
production and improved herd feeding efficiency.
Media contact
-
Geraldine Hinter (08) 8302 0963 or 0417 861832