Work is underway to prepare for the rebuild of the Struan Research Centre near Naracoorte, following the devastating fire that occurred in November last year.
PIRSA is assessing the infrastructure needs for the Centre to make sure that rebuilding will meet the future needs of research at the site, which is a vital government research and development facility for the agricultural and livestock industries.
The fire destroyed parts of the facility, parts of the Centre’s office and some scientific equipment. While there was some damage to a small number of unprocessed research samples and farm records, most of the Centre’s research had been digitised and was therefore unaffected.
PIRSA staff at the site were promptly moved to other parts of the facility, including within the historic building Struan House, so that their important work could continue.
PIRSA is now working closely with staff on a needs analysis to inform the planning for the rebuild, which will occur once the insurance claim is finalised. This will ensure that the Struan Research Centre meets the ongoing needs of government and agricultural industries.
The Struan Research Centre includes the AgTech Demonstration Farm. Research conducted at the Centre has a focus on:
- AgTech
- crop agronomy
- revegetation
- cattle and sheep genetics
- grazing management
- meat production and quality
- animal welfare and behaviour
- livestock nutrition.
