By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
JASON Wood has partnered with local businesspeople in a push for an innovation and entrepreneurship centre to operate from the site of Monash Berwick.
The La Trobe MP said this week that he would push for funding for the centre, which he believed would boost industry and create jobs in the area.
“I’m working with Christopher Pyne’s office (Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science) and also the Education Minister’s and I’d love to hear from potential other providers about turning this into a high-level innovation and entrepreneurship centre,” he said.
Earlier this month, Monash University announced a proposal to close the campus following a short consultation period, however Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Leon Piterman told the Gazette it was too early to say whether the decision to cease teaching could be reversed.
Mr Wood confirmed he met with Monash last year to offer Federal Government funding. He will urge the State Education Minister not to sign off on the sale of the land, and said a centre for innovation would be an asset to the growth corridor.
“There’s a huge need in the outer eastern suburbs,” he said.
“It works very nicely. To me, that’s a direction we should be going, these are the type of people who are business people in the area and they’re coming to me and saying this is what you need to be focusing on.”
Business director of APT Engineering Ron Weinzierl backed Mr Wood’s plan, and said the future of Casey was in advanced manufacturing.
“What we need to look at is building an infrastructure for advanced manufacturing – a sustainable manufacturing model,” he said.
“What we’re trying to do is gain interest from possible employees who are trying to get engineering and innovation.
“Advanced manufacturing is the future, not just general manufacturing or engineering.”
Mr Weizierl is engaged in talks with the City of Casey, and will meet with Minister Pyne in Canberra this week.
But Jason Wood says there’s no question – Berwick is prime position for a centre of this kind.
“You have one business that comes up with a great idea and that creates lots of local jobs,” he said.
“We want to let the rest of the country know that the south east of Melbourne is the place for high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship.”
