Thursday, 5 November 2015
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman turned the first sod to mark the start of construction works on the Ningaloo Centre, the largest social infrastructure investment in Exmouth since the town was built almost 50 years ago.
The centre will provide The University of Western Australia, the Durack Institute of Technology and other research institutions with much-needed facilities to carry out research, train our next generation of postgraduate students and share their knowledge with the public.
Mr Redman said the new centre would become the educational and research hub for marine-based studies in Exmouth.
"The Ningaloo Centre will become the repository for all data sets on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park areas, and the Exmouth Gulf," he said.
"This will allow data-sharing between industry and the research community, providing the region with increased economic and socio-economic development opportunities."
Local residents can look forward to bigger and better library facilities, an interpretive display providing information on Exmouth's unique, World Heritage listed marine and terrestrial experience and a new cafe and indoor play area.
"The centre will offer facilities and services that will complement the town. I am pleased to see Royalties for Regions investing in such opportunities for regional Western Australia and I look forward to seeing the centre completed," the Minister said.
The state-of-the-art centre is made possible with an investment of $19.82 million from the State Government's Royalties for Regions Gascoyne Revitalisation Plan, $7 million from the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, $3.5 million from Lotterywest and $1.9 million from the Shire of Exmouth.
The Ningaloo Centre is scheduled to be opened in April 2017.
Media references
Minister Redman's Office (+61 8) 6552 6700
Anna-lee Harry (UWA Oceans Institute) (+61 8) 6488 7308
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