University receives keys to UQ Ipswich campus
The University of Queensland will receive possession of the first building in the $17 million stage one development of the UQ Ipswich campus at Salisbury Road today Tuesday, December 22 at 10.30am.
Managing director of Hutchinson Builders Scott Hutchinson will hand over the keys to building one to campus manager Warren Kerswill at an informal ceremony at the site. Architect Ruth Woods from Devine Erby Mazlin will also attend.
The campus will open to its first intake of 580 students in February, 1999. The 25-hectare campus, which is 1.4km from the Ipswich city centre, has a history dating from 1878, with 17 buildings heritage-listed.
By 2001 the campus population is planned to be more than 2200 students.
A formal ceremony to mark the official opening of the campus will be held in mid-1999.
Mr Kerswill and five administrative staff, including three members of the Student Centre will move on site tomorrow.
Currently staff from the University's Prentice (computer) Centre and Property and Facilities section are installing services and telephones to prepare for the arrival of five servers and 270 computer work stations on January 4. The first academics are expected on site on January 12.
University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Trevor Grigg said the University's receipt of the first building was a major milestone in the campus development.
"We are creating buildings and facilities for the next millennium," he said.
Professor Grigg said construction work began in April 1998 and had proceeded smoothly. The first buildings were now ready for staff to prepare for the foundation student intake.
"An amazing amount of work has been completed to ensure this will be an innovative campus and that students attending here will have access to courses equal to the best," he said.
"UQ Ipswich has been designed to maximise flexible learning opportunities for students.
"In the course of building the campus, contracts worth over $3 million have been signed for state-of-the-art information technology equipment."
Mr Kerswill said more than 100km of data cable had been laid under roads and lawns, and 40km of electrical cable for light and power. Also underground, in every 50 metres of trenching, there is one kilometre of pipework.
Courses to be offered at the high-tech UQ Ipswich campus from 1999 will include the bachelor of information environments, bachelor of electronic commerce, bachelor of business (communication), bachelor of contemporary studies, bachelor of social science (applied communication and development studies), bachelor of education (graduate entry), and bachelor of behavioural studies.
The first year of the new bachelor of business (leisure management) will be offered at the Bremer TAFE in 1999. From 2000 all years of the course will be offered at UQ Ipswich.
Planning is advanced for the second stage of development of the University of Queensland's Ipswich campus due for completion a year later, by first semester, 2000.
Construction for stage two, which commences in March, will develop buildings in the centre of the campus. The objective is to create a "village" to serve as the social and administrative heart of the campus. Stage three will focus on the area between stage one and two.
Media contacts: Professor Grigg, telephone 07 3365 7366
Mr Kerswill, telephone 07 3381 1002, mobile 0411 407 263
