Funding for Murdoch University Environmental Technology Centre

19/4/99
A world-class research centre, which will boost Western Australia's growing reputation for excellence in environmental technology, has won State Government support.
Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan today announced funding of $370,000 for a significant expansion of Murdoch University's Environmental Technology Centre (ETC).
Mr Cowan said the centre was established in 1992 to research and develop environmental technology with a unique focus on small-scale systems applicable to urban areas, as well as rural and remote communities.
He said the Government grant would combine with contributions from Murdoch University and industry worth $791,000 to enable expanded facilities, including demonstration areas and laboratories, and employment of extra research staff, including a research manager.
"It aims to provide substantial benefits to industry and the economy generally through increased exports of the centre's technologies and reduced costs to local industry with the development of new energy and water-efficient processes,"
Mr Cowan said.
The centre has now won its bid to become the heart of a proposed United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) - International Regional Environmental Technology Centre for the Asia-Pacific. The upgrading of the facilities of the centre through the Centre of Excellence Program ensured the success of the bid.
"UN centre status will enhance WA's reputation as a pioneer of environmentally-sound industrial technologies and will also increase export opportunities," Mr Cowan said.
"The ETC already has a good track record in providing technologies applicable to the needs of developing countries."
Past successes include wastewater treatment plants installed in Indonesia, a solar-powered desalination plant, presently being marketed worldwide, development of an on-site water bacteriological test kit for remote areas, wind energy systems and domestic greywater-reuse systems.
"In WA, ETC research helped avert potential groundwater contamination by nutrients at the Swan Brewery Company and saved wastewater discharge costs," Mr Cowan said.
"It also contributed to development of a Remote Area Hygiene Facility ablutions block which has been successfully fabricated in Kalgoorlie, South Hedland and Halls Creek for use by remote communities.
"The centre will now be able to reach its full potential for R&D collaboration with small and medium-sized WA companies and for promoting and marketing its world-class technologies, products and training programs.
"It will also be able to apply to become a WA node of the national CRC for Waste Management and Pollution Control."
The State Government funds will be provided over three years, from the Department of Commerce and Trade's Centres of Excellence Program, once final agreement has been reached between the Government and the ETC.
The Centres of Excellence Program is designed to offset research risks by providing strong State support for the infrastructure needed to establish and maintain research centres with an industry focus.
Media contacts: Peter Jackson (Minister's office) 9222 9595

Prof. Goen Ho (Inst. Of Environmental Science, Murdoch University) 9360 2167