THE MELT

Ms JODIE HARRISON(Charlestown)The COVID-19 pandemic brought out the inventiveness and adaptability of Hunter businesses and inventors, with a number of businesses in the region joining together with academics to develop a cutting-edge prototype ventilator. Local electrical engineering company Ampcontrol was selected by the NSW Government to produce ventilator prototypes earlier this year. Ampcontrol is a partner in The Melt at Dashworks Makespace Warners Bay. The Melt is a collaborative hub allowing ideas to become reality through access to funding, expertise, equipment and pathways to rapidly develop and market products. Important parts of Ampcontrol's prototype were designed and 3D printed at the Melt, which was established by Dantia, Lake Macquarie's economic development company, in one of my proudest achievements as Lake Macquarie mayor. Hunter New England Health, University of Newcastle and Hunter-based electrical engineering companies Safearth and NewieVentures also assisted in the prototype's design. Together, they were able to design and deliver a fully functional emergency ventilator prototype for clinical testing in just eighteen days. My congratulations to these organisations, the staff at the Melt and all of the incredible people who worked so hard to get this prototype ready for testing.

A Community Recognition Statement is an opportunity for an MP to give a short speech praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Statement, please email and let me know!