Locals get the lowdown on space research centre

Greg Bodeker.
Greg Bodeker.
An information session in Alexandra will give locals the rundown on the $15 million space-based research centre coming to the town.

Dr Greg Bodeker will tomorrow explain the functions of the Centre for Space Science Technology and how it will affect Alexandra. This will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Dr Bodeker directs Bodeker Scientific, which led its government funding proposal.

A charitable trust is being created for the centre and an establishment group has been created in the interim.

Group member Gary Kelliher said it was important to explain the project to the community as it was ``a unique success for the area. There has been quite a lot of community interest in it''.

In November, Minister for Science and Innovation Steven Joyce visited to announce a grant of up to $14.7million over four years for the project.

The centre will work with New Zealand industries to provide tailored information, at first using data from international satellites, and later from those it builds and owns.

It will be based in Alexandra, with offices in Dunedin, New Plymouth and Lincoln and will create about 70 to 80 jobs, half of those in Alexandra.

It is planned to have the centre operational by July 1.

The session will be held at 7pm, at the Alexandra Memorial Theatre.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

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