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Pine Rivers in bid for $130M research facility

Pine Rivers Shire, just outside Brisbane, is in the running for a $130 million research facility that would boost job opportunities and the local economy. Council has supported an expression of interest by Development Company Lend Lease for the construction of a synchrotron at the company's massive North Lakes Development site in the Shire.

This followed the State Government's call for expressions of interest to co venture a bid to the Commonwealth Government to develop a synchrotron in Queensland. A synchrotron produces an intense light beam that allows matter to be examined at a molecular level.

It is an important research tool in the development of biotechnology, drug design, molecular environmental sciences, minerals and materials industries. There are several synchrotrons around the world, but none in Australia.

Shire Mayor, Councillor Yvonne Chapman, said the North Lakes site in the northern growth corridor of south east Queensland is one of the largest subdivisions ever approved in Queensland. She said part of its subdivisional approval was that it would house a well serviced major employment centre

This would cater for a range of businesses and industries which would complement the retail and commercial activities. A significant proportion of the 1,023 hectare North Lakes site was set aside for these non residential activities. North Lakes also is a greenfield site which borders the Bruce Highway. It has excellent access to other major roads, Brisbane airport and the Port of Brisbane.

"The synchrotron would be a catalyst for the development of intellectually based industries and business planned for the North Lake development," the Mayor said.

"If North Lakes is selected to develop the research facility it could mean a massive boost to the Pine Rivers Shire.

"This facility would provide significant economic and social benefits for the entire Northern Brisbane and Pine Rivers region."

Such a facility is initially expected to employ about 60-100 highly skilled physicists and technicians but a synchrotron could also have significant flow on benefits.

"It is hoped the facility will lead to the development of new age industries creating demand for high job skills," Councillor Chapman said.

"As a result, Pine Rivers Shire could be positioned as a high tech employment hub in the northern Brisbane growth corridor, and nationally and even internationally as a centre for research and development.

"It's a very exciting prospect and we feel we have the right site, the right facilities and the right growth and development in the Shire to support it."

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