By Alesha Capone
A $7 million innovation hub, which will develop green solutions involving waste, packaging, construction and water management, has been officially opened at Victoria University’s Werribee campus.
Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney, Werribee MP Tim Pallas and the university’s vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker attended the event earlier this month.
The state government contributed $4.9 million to The Sustainable Futures Innovation Hub.
Thirteen new jobs have been created at the hub.
“The hub will provide a home for sustainable innovation, opportunities to collaborate across research, industry and the community, and ultimately bolster our economy,” Mr Pallas said.
The hub is part of a broader Victoria University initiative, named VU RISE (Recover, Innovate, Sustain, Evolve), to help Melbourne’s west recover from the COVID pandemic by improving long-term productivity, workforce needs and economic and social development.
“This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work with the Victorian government and our partners in the west and beyond to create a brighter future – using sustainable solutions to complex problems.” Professor Shoemaker said.
The hub will be home to a program in which the university collaborates with the Wadawurrung, Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung people and the local community, through the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre in Wyndham Vale.
Working with Australia’s traditional land owners who have boundaries along the Werribee River, and related groups, researchers will help with water management decisions and developing strategies for water loss reduction from supply pipes.
The hub will also be a place for the research and development of responsible packaging, such as bio-packaging created from agricultural waste and pavement created from recycled plastic and glass.
Another project the hub will focus on is developing prototype smart technology tools which improve quality control and inspection procedures in construction, plus education and training on health and safety risks to minimise workplace accidents in the industry.
