THE future of the Gravity Discovery Centre remains uncertain despite a surge in visitor numbers and the recent addition of state-of-the-art education facilities.

The State Government pulled the pin on its annual $350,000 funding arrangements late last year and the coffers will run dry at the end of the month.

However, support for the popular centre continues to grow with more visitors passing through the gates than ever before.

Numbers have increased two-fold in the past two years from 8768 in 2007/08 to 19,942 visitors this financial year.

Science and Innovation Minister Bill Marmion said the centre had been given more than $1.75 million in grants since 2004.

He said future cash was reliant on the centre’s board exploring more funding options.

He has asked the science branch of the Department of Commerce to work with the centre to review their operations and funding to allow it to operate from July 1.

As centre education manager Brad Whitaker runs through details of the new dome projector in the cosmology gallery, his passion for the centre, its thousands of visitors and the many educational programs is clear.

“We feel this will become a real asset to the education programs at the centre,” he said.

“Students lie on mats on the floor, and get the whole experience of being in a planetarium with the dome roof.”

The 27-minute movie on black holes and the scientific development in this area has already proved popular with hundreds of school students this month.

The purchase and installation of projector equipment and lighting in the gallery was made possible with a Lotterywest grant of more than $400,000.
Courtesty Community News 23/06/10
My reply to the article and can be viewed online
Rona
23/06/2010

Closing a state of the art science based facility like Gravity Discovery Centre just one hour north of Perth is ridiculous. If the state is bidding for the scienced based SKA project, how long will the money last for that project.
Think long term and not just which political party said YES to the project. Start growing up WA and start showing how to be remarkable!