Premier to launch Innovation Week /open Observatory

7 May 2001

NSW Premier Bob Carr today will launch Innovation Week in Wollongong and open the Duke Energy Observatory at the University of Wollongong's Science Centre in Fairy Meadow.

It is the only public Observatory that gives visitors a chance to use a research quality telescope.

The Observatory is to be sponsored by Duke Energy which follows sponsorship by Nortel for the Science Centre and sponsorship from BHP for the Planetarium.

The State Government has provided about $2.6 million towards the construction of the Science Centre and by the end of last year the centre had recorded 60,000 visitors.

The Science Centre is a major innovation for Wollongong, providing science literacy for the people of southern NSW through the special combination of hands-on exhibits, science shows, a planetarium and now a public observatory. The combination of interactive exhibits, observatory and planetarium will provide the State's leading astronomical education resource.

The Observatory's rotating domed roof provided some major architectural challenges. The large aluminium dome will hold up to 30 people at a time.

Among guests attending the launch and opening: the Member for Cunningham, Dr Stephen Martin; the Member for Wollongong, Mr Colin Markham; the Member for Keira, Mr David Campbell; Wollongong Lord Mayor, Cr George Harrison; UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton; and the Commercial Operations Manager for Duke Energy International, Mr Stuart Firth.

Opening time: 11am, 7 May at the Science Centre, Fairy Meadow.
For further information contact the Director of the University of Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium, Mr Glen Moore, via the Centre's general number on 4286 5000.