The Health and Knowledge Precinct
The Gold Coast Science Centre
I love science. I have a degree in it. Science opens the mind to see the world for all its potential. A strong education in science increases critical thinking and analytical skills. It is important for success across all aspects of life.
The Gold Coast is the only major city in Australia without a science centre. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth all have their own hands-on interactive science centres, as does Newcastle, Canberra and Wollongong. The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, with a larger population than some of those cities, but it is missing out.
I have talked about this issue at length with my good friends Professor Richard John and Randall Hall from Griffith’s Science on the GO!. Since the launch of Science on the GO! in 2005, their programs have won awards and engaged over half a million people in STEM education initiatives. They run hands-on science experiences across the Gold Coast, Logan and northern New South Wales.They share my passion for STEM and their work shows that there is a public demand for such a centre.
The health and knowledge precinct is missing a way to engage the community on the Gold Coast. My vision would be land provided by the state government, funding from the federal government to help get the science centre established, and a commitment from Griffith University to have its staff run the centre.
This science centre could be a place where students from all Gold Coast schools visit regularly on excursions. That alone would mean thousands of visitors coming constantly to the centre. Students would no longer have to drive to Brisbane to get this sort of science education. It would be a great resource for local teachers on the Gold Coast. It would generate tourism and local jobs.
Sam announces the LNP’s plans for the Health and Knowledge Precinct.
Architect’s plans for the new Griffith University ADaPT building.
The Advanced Design and Prototyping TechnoLogy (ADaPT) Institute
The Advanced Design and Prototyping Technology (ADaPT) facility will be an Australian-first. It’s a Griffith University project that they’ve been working for years to get it off the ground. This funding will enable them to get it built - providing 320 jobs during construction and over 300 ongoing. It will combine technology, manufacturing and medicine in a next-generation biomedical and industrial facility. They’ve only got a small concept-testing version of ADaPT at the moment so this building will be a massive expansion.
The LNP has committed $33 million to build a new advanced manufacturing building in the Health and Knowledge Precinct - just across the road from the Griffith University tram station.