Norwest Business Park: Mulpha Norwest develops university

Plans for a $50 million university campus to be built in northwest Sydney have been revealed as part of a billion dollar innovation hub.

Developers behind a $3 billion masterplan for a smart city to be based in Norwest Business Park are calling for an education provider to establish a university campus within the next to years.

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A multimillion-dollar university campus has been proposed for the centre of Norwest Business Park in The Hills — with developers behind a $3 billion smart city masterplan earmarking the high-rise education hub as the catalyst of a future innovation precinct.

Mulpha Norwest have called for a tertiary provider to partner in a joint venture to create The Hills’ first university, earmarking the construction of the $50 million Norwest University, just metres from the new Sydney Metro Norwest station.

Mulpha Norwest executive general manager Tim Spencer is calling on a university to join the innovation hub venture. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Mulpha Norwest general manager Tim Spencer told The Times the developers were offering an education provider a prime site within the Norwest City centre, “to cater for the tertiary education and the vocational learning needs of the Norwest community”.

“This is a unique opportunity for an education provider to create the future of workplace and

community education in a masterplanned, mixed-use precinct that has extraordinary growth

potential,” Mr Spencer said.

“We expect the successful provider to work closely with our community to help them manage

and thrive in the digital age.”

Mr Spencer said Norwest University would specialise in technology and innovation, however, a full spectrum of degrees would be on offer.

In an expression of interest, released to a wider variety of universities on Friday, Mulpha revealed it would deliver a purpose-built, “state-of-the-art University building to be known as the Librarium”.

“The Librarium will be the centre of knowledge, education and innovation excellence at Norwest,” Mr Spencer said.

Early artist's impression of an innovation precinct in Norwest Smart City.

“It is proposed to contain a re-imagined traditional district library, an innovation incubation hub, a University campus and a roof top area for social interaction of the community.”

The expression of interest called for the tertiary education provider to begin classes within two years, with the campus expected to be complete by 2025.

By 2031, Norwest Business Park will require approximately 375,000 square metres of commercial floor space to meet the future employment demands of Norwest Sydney — becoming the largest employment centre for the region.

Hills Shire Mayor, Michelle Byrne, said current educational facilities in northwest Sydney was a drawcard for residents.

An artist's impression of proposed smart city at Mulpha Norwest. including Norwest Marketown where the proposed university would be located.

“We have excellent early educational facilities, primary schools and high schools but what is missing is a university,” Cr Byrne told The Times.

“More than ever there is an increasing need for our own university right here in The Hills.

“We have a rapidly growing population, we have a world class business park and with the Metro we have even more opportunities to create an innovative university campus right here in the Hills.

She said she would welcome a university to The Hills “with open arms.

“A university would offer our residents the opportunities to pursue higher education without having to travel and will create opportunities for those already working in the Hills to conveniently work and study in the same location,” she said.

A Western Sydney University spokesman revealed it was assessing the Mulpha proposal, “in the context of its ongoing commitment to the continued development of its region”.