Planetarium reno set to dazzle

THE planetarium at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre is reopening this weekend and it’s double the size of the one it replaced.

Paid with $250,000 from the State Government Regional Tourism Investment Fund, the new planetarium includes a state-of-the-art dome theatre that uses more than 30,000 pieces of scientific data and imagery.

The centre’s general manager Alissa Van Soest said it was an amazing upgrade to the facility and early reactions had been positive.

“The planetarium is incredible,” she said. “It’s so much better than we imagined it would be. I had my girls in STEM group in there on Tuesday, and they walked in, and they just went ‘oh wow!’

“The questions and curiosity that it inspired were amazing. It was everything we hoped for and that’s awesome.”

State Minister for Regional Development, Harriet Shing, said the overhauled facility will bring more visitors to the area.

“It’s so great to see the new Bendigo Planetarium open,” he said. “It’s ready to attract even more visitors to the region for years to come.”

Yet the new planetarium is more than just a tourist attraction, with member for Bendigo East and Deputy-Premier, Jacinta Allan, saying the upgrade will also have educational benefits.

“We are so pleased this state-of-the-art facility is now open to the public,” she said. “It’s offering world-class science and technology experiences that foster STEM learning.”

The planetarium will also be used for other events including a screening of Cariberrie dance, song and music for the upcoming Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival, which will utilise the films recording on 360-degree cameras.

Ms Van Soest said anyone with a curious streak should get on down to check out the new planetarium.

“It’ll be open to the public from Saturday onwards,” she said. “So, anyone who wants to have their curiosity sparked should come along.”