- Published:
- Friday 19 February 2016
Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert today met with those leading plans to develop a $3.5 million underground physics laboratory in Stawell.
In November, the Andrews Labor Government committed $1.75 million towards delivering the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL), a world-leading physics laboratory to be built in an existing gold mine.
The lab, which will be more than one kilometre underground, will be used to conduct research into ‘dark matter’, as well as sensitive physics and biomedical experiments.
Mr Herbert met with Murray Emmerson, the Mayor of the Northern Grampians Shire Council as well as Professor Elisabetta Barberio, from the University of Melbourne. Professor Barberio has previously worked as a researcher at leading European nuclear research agency CERN.
The University of Melbourne plan to partner with the Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Italian National Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics to bring together Southern and Northern hemisphere research agencies to conduct cutting edge physics research.
Mr Herbert said the laboratory would attract world class researchers to the area, as well as generating more than 50 skilled jobs, and provide support to the local and regional economy.
Funding for this project has come from the Labor Government’s $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
Mr Herbert is using his three day tour of Western Victoria to encourage more educational partnerships in regional Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert
"This project will help put the region's scientific research on the world stage, whilst bringing more universities and leading researchers from around the world to our state."
"The project reinforces Victoria's reputation as a world-class scientific, investment and research hub."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
"This laboratory will be one of just two in the Southern Hemisphere. Through the Andrews Government's Regional Jobs and Infrastructure fund, we are putting Stawell on the map, creating jobs and boosting investment opportunities for the region."
"We are making sure our regional communities get what they deserve, world class developments for world class research."