The university announced nearly a year ago that the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre, as it had been known for 30 years, would become an internal venture and no longer a joint initiative with CSIRO.

Professor Bond took on the role of director in 2016 and spoke of upholding long-standing collaborations and goals through the new centre, at the launch yesterday.

"I'd argue that Albury-Wodonga has the greatest concentration of people working together on water management outside of a capital city," he said.

"Whilst we’re entering into a new phase, MDFRC has left a strong legacy."

Professor Bond was one of six researchers approached by the federal government in January to form an independent panel to investigate the fish deaths, and Head of School of Life Sciences Shaun Collin said this appointment was a testament to his skills.

"Anyone who saw those terrible photos and footage of the fish deaths that occurred in the Menindee lake system will have a very vivid reminder of how important the research that goes on here is," he said.

La Trobe vice-chancellor John Dewar rated the research output that takes place at Albury-Wodonga across numerous fields as within the top three in the country, when taking into account the size of the campus, and staff and student numbers.

"The Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems is possibly one of the most important research centres in this country in its field," he said.

Professor Bond said the centre was undertaking new undergraduate courses in water management and would continue to advise government on the Murray Darling Basin, with strategies for the next four years including to increase awareness of the centre's findings in Canberra.

The centre has 10 academic staff based at the Wodonga campus and 19 other technical and affiliated staff throughout the university.

Five CSIRO staff who were based at the Wodonga campus are still on site but it's expected they will be relocated in coming months.