03 October 2024
The State Government has today released new artist impressions of the Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE) being built in Mount Gambier and officially launched today.
The Centre is a collaborative project between the State Government, the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the forest industry. It will be built on the same site as the UniSA Mount Gambier campus, the new Mount Gambier Technical College and the Mount Gambier TAFE, providing a unique opportunity to create an education, training and research precinct.
The design for the facility is due to be finalised in November 2024 with building construction due to commence in April 2025 and an expected completion in January 2026.
Vital research underway in temporary facilities was showcased at a special launch on site today and includes projects on:
- structural timber market access
- improving safety
- fire detection from cameras and satellites
- suppression, recovery and analysis of digital forestry data using artificial intelligence
- immersive data analytics using VR and AR to understand the implications of climate change on plantation growth yield and water use.
Following a global search, Professor Jeff Morrell has been appointed as the Forestry Centre of Excellence’s inaugural director due to commence in mid-January 2025. Previously, he was Director for the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life based at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The FCoE links to the forest industry and its key attribute of collaboration, connection and partnerships through its research, training education, development, and extension activities, has been reflected in the new FCoE brand of interlocking abstract trees also unveiled today.
In launching the FCoE, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas described the Green Triangle plantation forest region as “one of the powerhouses of the Australian forest industry”.
“The South Australian portion of the region contributes more than $860 million to the state’s gross product annually – making it one of our most productive primary industry sectors,” Premier Malinauskas said.
“We are delivering on our election commitment to establish a world-leading Forestry Centre of Excellence to strengthen this already thriving industry.”
UniSA Chancellor John Hill, who attended the launch, said the University was honoured to host the new Forestry Centre of Excellence, which has evolved from Forest Research Mount Gambier, established in 2018 by the State and Federal Government, UniSA and the forestry industry.
“The model of recruiting UniSA researchers into the forestry industry has resulted in a more efficient, safer, progressive, and profitable industry, establishing standards for best practice,” Chancellor Hill said.
“Together with the State Government, we are proud to continue this partnership and help advance research and development projects to ensure the industry’s economic prosperity committing more than $6 million towards the Centre’s operations and building along with significant in-kind support.”
For further information on the Forestry Centre of Excellence visit: Forestry Centre of Excellence - PIRSA
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Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
