New Curtin resources precinct

Curtin University is looking for extra industry partners to join BHP Billiton in helping to develop its new resources and chemistry precinct, which was officially launched at its Bentley campus last week.

About $100 million is being invested in the precinct to provide purpose-built premises for Curtin’s Department of Applied Chemistry and the state government’s Chemistry Centre, which is currently in East Perth.

The precinct is located adjacent to CSIRO Minerals’ office, which is being expanded at a cost of about $12 million to accommodate three industry-funded research groups.

The Parker Centre, which is focused on minerals processing and hydrometallurgy, will be moving from its current headquarters at Murdoch University in late 2007 or early 2008, while the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing will move from the Australian Resources Research Centre building in Kensington.
AMIRA International, a mining industry association that attracts about $15 million in annual industry funding, also plans to move its Perth office to the CSIRO building.

Curtin’s original vision was to integrate CSIRO Minerals and the research centres into its resources precinct, but instead they will simply be co-located.

Vice-chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket said this was because CSIRO would focus on the minerals sector while the precinct would focus on resources more broadly and chemistry. 

More than 300 professional scientists, engineers and support staff in areas such as hydrometallurgy, water quality and treatment, energy, forensic science, environmental and food chemistry, corrosion and biotechnology will eventually be based at the precinct. 

“Its strong research culture will support relevant, high-impact research programs that can add value to many of the mineral commodities underpinning Australia’s economy,” Professor Hacket said.

She hopes that its strong research environment crossing many disciplines will help to spark renewed student interest in mathematics, science and technology.

A feature of the project is Curtin’s alliance with BHP Billiton, which has agreed to contribute $5 million in cash over five years.

Some of the cash will go directly towards development of the precinct.

It will also be used to boost science education in schools, support university teaching in regional areas and provide scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate students in regional communities, with a particular focus on indigenous communities.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore president Ian Ashby said the company was working with Curtin “to produce the next generation of industry professionals”.

“And we are keen to see that some of these professionals come from the regional areas in which we operate,” Mr Ashby said.

Professor Hacket said the university was looking for more industry partners and researchers to support the precinct.

“We are very interested in expanding the precinct,” she said.

The establishment of the new precinct follows the formation in recent years of a major oil and gas-focused research centre at the northern end of Curtin’s campus.
The Western Australian Energy Research Alliance has gained backing from Curtin, the University of WA, the state government, Woodside Petroleum and Chevron and aims to become one of the world’s top three centres of excellence in oil and gas engineering.

Both centres are contained within the state government’s proposed technology precinct, which also incorporates the Curtin campus and Technology Park.