Bulletin, No.1, Feb 5-19, 1990

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Number 1 IffiNI033-3894 RegLstratlon NBH3127 Febnmy 5 to 19, 1990 Earthquake damage cost $5 million The Insurance bill for the damage sustained by the UnIversity's buUd I,?~}and equipment In the Dec el, __ ~r 28, 1989 earthquake Is like ly to reach $5 million. The University has sought special assistance from the Federal Goyernment to compensate for the o( ampus accommodation for st<-..ents that has been lost In the inner city and suburbs of Newcastle as a result of the earthquake and to allow the McMullin Building, which was extenSively damaged, to be refurbished. The main developments on the campus since the earthquake: • Professor Michael Carter, who was Acting Vice-Chancellor when the earthquake hit, ann ounced that whilst there had >fortunately been loss of life dIld extensive property damage In Newcastle the University could be grateful that the damage to property on the rampus was not as serious as it )gbt have been. • rrofessor Carter praised mem bers of staff who had spent long hours every day assessing damage, arranging for repairs, clearing debriS, effecting re pairs and re-arranglng teach Ing programs. • To provide accommodation for students from other regions of the State as an alternative to accommodation In private ho mes, the University approved a housing package which, among other things, has allowed the eStalfmembers oJ the Computer Centre in the Hunter BuUdfng, (left to establishment of a temporary right) Ms Jan Darr and Ms Lyn Sinclair, SW1Jeyfng the damage caused student village, comprising pre by the earthquake to their section. fabricated air-conditioned ac commodation, on the campus. which students had not norm the University for the citizens • The Manager of Newcastle ally rented accommodation In who had been affected by death Buses, Mr Len Regan, announ previous years. and injury and for their fam ced that from the first day of • Professor Carter conveyed to ilies, friends and work mates. first semester (February 26) 12 the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, new bus services would operate Alderman John McNaughton, to the University from areas In the sympathy of members of More over the page 2. He said the Chancellor of the University, the Hon. Justice Elizabeth Evatt, was partic ularly keen. to be associated with the pledge of support to the Lord Mayor and the citizens of the region. Professor Carter said to Aldennan McNaughton: 'Please be assured that members of the University are at hand to assist In any way, both In the lnUnedlate future and In the major tasks of physical and social reconstruction which now con front us', Professor Carter told the BULLETIN that University staff had been exemplary In attending to the damage suffered on the campus. 'There were no histrionics; they just got on with the job'. He said that In a number of areas, particularly the Faculty of MediCine and the School of Health, there were problems which had Implications for this year's acad emic programs. Activities had had to be relocated because of major disturbance and possible demol ition of buildings at the Royal Newcastle Hospital and some other hospitals. However, everything necessary had been done. He was also confident the University had taken all possible steps to cope with the student accommodation difficulties and he was optimistic that the arrange ments made would prove to be sufficient. A meeting of executive offic ers and faculty and departmental heads was held on January 23 to assess the damage sustained by the • Above: TIes whtch were placed in the waUs of the Biological buildings at Shortland and the Sciences Building after the earthquake. Below: Damage to the wall Faculty and Conservatorlum of of the Conservatorlum Concert Hall in Laman Street. Newcastle. Music In Newcastle. Professor Carter reported that the damage to the accom modation of the Faculty of Music was not as serious as had been originally thought. He said the temporary stud ent village (see associated story) would be quite attractive, with the Unions on campus joining forces to provide the students with meals. Professor Carter had writ ten to the Minister for Employ ment, Education and Training, Mr Dawkins, seeking $6.5 million In special funds to allow the Uni versity to provide the on-campus student accommodation and re furbish the McMullin Building. Professor Carter said an immediate initiative taken by Associate Professor Colin Keay had resulted in Newcastle Buses decid- More over the page 3 Ing to run the new bus setvices. The -. Basden Theatre - the north buses would make It easier for eastern wall has been disloc Prospective students to find accommodation In ated, with the top section held students advisor areas of Newcastle not tradition In place by the roof. The ally used by students. theatre Is closed until repairs The University's former admin 'As for the University gen have been effected. Istrator of the Higher Education erally, we have made a check of Contribution Scheme (HECS) has • Chemistry BuUding - the eves bUildings and are stU! taking stock been appointed to the new poSition of the building have suffered of Adviser for Prospective Stud of the damage which the earth extensive damage, as have quake has caused. rooms on the top floor. It Is ents. 'We may need to obtain likely that a large section of the Ms Julie Swain (formerly demountables to prevenfany inter top floor will have to be rebuilt. Klem). who has had extensive ruption to the University's teach TImber Joints have been Instal student liaison experience over the Ing program.' led to prevent some of the walls last four years. took up the posit Ion on December 8. The Manager, Buildings and from falling down. Grounds, Mr Maurie Edmonds, said Ms Swain said the intro • Biological Sciences - what Mr duction of the position of Adviser the University's Insurers had said McWhinney describes as 'nasty that further movement of buildings for Prospective Students was a very cracks' can be seen In the walls important step for the University, was possible for the next three of the building and ties have months. particularly as amalgamation had been Installed to hold parts of taken place. ~ He said It would be neces the walls together. The build She Is responsible for the .~ to demolish some wails which Ing will have to be repaired co-ordination and organisation of had been saveable after the earth brick-by-brick, starting at the student liaison activities for the quake but had since moved. top, to prevent damage to the University. Involving schools lia Buildings which were used covered ways on the ground. Ison and liaison with Industry. ~embers of the public, such as • Hunter Building - the columns TAFE. commerce and the profes ':;i.? Great Hall, the GrlIIlth DUncan outside the Computer Centre sions. and assisting with the Theatre and the Drama Theatre, and some rooms inside the promotion of the University's post had been checked first. centre show extensive cracking graduate and higher degree offer Because of the damage to the and the roof has been damaged. Ings. Royal Newcastle Hospital and the New extensions to the Richard Whilst student liaison Is John Hunter Hospital, It was prop son Wing have sustained dam Identlfled as a section within the osed, Mr Edmonds said, to erect age. Admissions and Enrolments four demountables on the campus Branch of the Student DIvision. It • New Economics & Computing Is closely Integrated functionally - three at the Hunter Building and BuUding - damage to the brick one at the Medical Sciences Build with admissions and enrolments. walls of the teaching section It Is also closely linked with . Ing (for teaching In the Faculty of wUI have to be repaired. thus Medicine and the School of Heal- the needs of the Student Equity delaying the opening of the function. The liaison function wU! tl--0fO building by approximately two Involve the partiCipation of staff , The meeting was Informed months. across a range of functional areas. that the Department of Education • Faculty of Music - the earth both within and beyond the Stud had offered to make classrooms at ent Division, J esmond High School aVailable to quake dislodged some of the pipes of the organ In the main Ms Swain can be contacted the University for lectures after 4 at Exlenslon 711 or by calling In to y auditorium and the new per Tgi,),veryda . formance hall sustained major her office, Room G64 In the < Professor Carter requested structural damage on the McMullin those present to talk with their col southwestern comer. leagues In departments to get feed back on the effects of the earth • Auchmuty Library - ceiling quake and report any problems to tiles and Insulation batts. the Buildings and Grounds Divis together with thousands of Ion. books. fell to the floor In the reading rooms. Wiring was The BULLETIN Inspected exposed In the ceiling. Only some of the damaged buildings on relatively minor structural campus with Mr Richard McWhin damage occurred In the build ney, of the Buildings and Grounds Ing. Because of the need for Division. staff to restore order the library Mr McWhinney gave this was closed for four days. summary of the effects of the earth • Huxley Library (former Hunter quake on the buildings: Institute) - sustained only minor damage. • McMullin Building - some wails at the southern end wU! have to be rebuilt. The floor lines have been shattered on three floors. The wall of the Computing Centre sustained an extensive crack. • Ms Julie Swain The 10.000 DM Deutscher Akademlscher grant was obtained with the assistance of Professor Fred Walla. of the German Section of the Department of Modem Languages.

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