Bulletin

Issue: January/February 2004

News

New Building on Mildura Campus

La Trobe University unveiled its new Academic and Research facility in Mildura late last year. The $4.5 million building houses the Mildura campus, together with the Lower Basin Laboratory of the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC).

The campus comprises a 150-seat lecture theatre with state of the art video-conferencing and multimedia technology, seminar rooms, computer resource laboratory, administration and offices for lecturers. The MDFRC Lower Basin Laboratory features a microscope laboratory, controlled temperature room and offices for scientists.

Opening the new facility - known as the 'Brian Grogan Building' - La Trobe Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis, said the event reflected the combined efforts of the Mildura community, particularly those of local councillor, Cr Brian Grogan, who helped develop both the University at Mildura, and the extension of the MDFRC to the lower part of the Murray.

Professor Millis also praised the efforts of the University's regional committee led by local identity, Stefano de Pieri.

The new facility was funded by the Victorian State Government Regional Infrastructure Development Fund, La Trobe University, together with contributions from the Mildura Rural City Council and local community.

La Trobe Mildura Campus Director, Ron Broadhead, said the University's new location and partnership were expected to lead to a growth in demand for university places of up to twenty per cent in the next few years.

The campus offers courses in agricultural science, arts, business, education, nursing, science, social work, fine art, graphic design and viticultural science and wine production as well as postgraduate study opportunities in arts, business education and sciences.

'We are already starting to generate greater local demand for higher education, which will increase the learning opportunities in the area, as well as encouraging more professionals to live and work in the Mallee,' Mr Broadhead said.

'At the same time, we are helping to ensure that the region's precious waterways and ecosystems will be maintained and continue to sustain the region for years to come.'

Professor Millis 'turned the first sod' of the new building in December 2002. The building was completed and handed over to the University by Albury-based builders, Zauner Constructions in early November, 2003. The architects were Woods Bagot Pty Ltd.

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