Contamination and clean-up research centre funding extended

Australia has renewed its commitment to a clean environment and healthy, safe community by extending its national research effort into contamination and clean-up by a further nine years.

The Managing Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Professor Ravi Naidu, welcomed the announcement by Minister for Science Senator Kim Carr that CRC CARE will be extended for a further nine years.

CRC CARE II is one of four Cooperative Research Centres to receive funding in the 13th selection round announced by the Australian Government under its Cooperative Research Centres Program, in support of its innovation agenda ‘Powering Ideas’.

CRC CARE II will receive $29m in federal funding, in addition to the contributions of its partners, to carry out further research into ways to assess, reduce and eliminate contamination in Australia’s landscapes, cities and industrial processes.

“CRC CARE II has an increased focus on helping to develop uniform national standards for assessing and remediating contamination,” Professor Naidu says. “This represents an important advance for Australia over its existing approach from all perspectives - scientific, industry and regulatory.

“It has, without doubt, potential to put Australia in the world vanguard in dealing with the issue of contamination, and in helping to create a healthier, safer and more environmentally sustainable society for everyone.

Prof Naidu said that because contamination often contained mixtures of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, finding the right solution for each situation was highly complex - but it was important for safeguarding the public’s health to do so.

“I wish to pay tribute to the enthusiasm, goodwill and commitment of our partners in industry, government and science to this ideal, which has made the new CRC possible,” he said.

“It builds on a strong foundation of scientific and technological advances made in partnership with industry and government, and with overseas partners in countries such as China.

Prof Naidu said details of CRC CARE II’s research programs will be announced in due course.