Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie’s $66m campus upgrade unveiled
In 2012 Charles Sturt University’s Port Macquarie Campus was operating out of a Rydges Hotel room. Today, it unveiled its newest addition – the $66 million stage 2a building. It will triple the student intake, making it the largest international student campus in regional Australia.
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It’s been a meteoric rise for the team at Port Macquarie’s Charles Sturt University (CSU) campus, which eight years ago was running its fledgling operations out of nothing more than the size of a Rydges Hotel room.
From those humble beginnings to today, it has been an incredible eight years of growth for the tertiary education provider which reached a major milestone this morning with the opening of the $66 million stage 2a building.
Completion of CSU’s ‘Stage 2 Development’ will see the campus triple its student intake from 1000 to 2800 people, making it Australia’s largest regional international university campus.
CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Engagement) Professor Heather Cavanagh said it was a momentous occasion for the university, which is only in its eighth year of operation.
“In 2012, we were just operating out of a hotel room in Rydges,” she said.
“To think we’re now at 1200 students, soon to be 2800 – it is a significant leap.
“This will have a significant impact on surrounding regions, because with more students, comes the need for accommodation, jobs and more visitors to the region who come to visit them.”
“This is really is a major milestone and we are very excited.”
The ‘Stage Two Development’ is funded by the NSW government and CSU and, built over 6300sq m, reaffirms the university’s commitment to its clean energy strategy and sustainability practices, with all roofs featuring solar arrays.
The bulk of the building contains staff offices, science laboratories, small lecture rooms as well as a gym.
Discussions are in place with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to develop walking and cycling paths through bushland around Stage Two to support the community’s connection with the emerging health and education precinct.
Stage 2b, which includes the Port Macquarie International Education Centre, a NSW Emergency Services training room, an Innovation Hub, and student support and amenity services, is due to be completed in December 2020.
Ms said the Stage 2a unveiling marked a new era of growth for the University in Port Macquarie.
“There is great potential for growth at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie and the development of Stage 2 allows us to reach those milestones as a University,” she said.
“These facilities are state-of-the art, sustainably constructed and will allow us to better service the region and to attract more students to the beautiful Mid North Coast to further their education.
“The University is honoured to open this facility with the support of local government, the NSW government, the health district, and the Chamber of Commerce.”
CSU Director of External Engagement in Port Macquarie Ms Kate Wood-Foye said unveiling Stage 2a on schedule was a proud accomplishment, especially during the COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns.
Ms Wood-Foye said Stage 2 of the Port Macquarie campus will benefit not only students and staff, but will boost the economy and attract more people to the Mid-North Coast.
“It has been an unprecedented year, but we are excited to have reached this milestone and delighted to be able to share it with our community,” she said.
“Stage 2a, accompanied by Stage 2b later this year, will strengthen the university in Port Macquarie to enable us to welcome more students on campus. Not only will this help to boost the economy but it will further put the campus on an international stage for quality education.
“Charles Sturt University is committed to creating a world worth living in, and these new facilities will ensure we are able to achieve that in Port Macquarie.”
Port Macquarie Mayor Peta Pinson said today’s opening was further evidence of the massive growth in Port Macquarie and the surrounding regions.
“Our region is very much going to benefit from the CSU expansion,” she said. “CSU has invested a lot of money into the Port Macquarie-Hastings region and rightly so.
“We are one of the fastest growing regions in NSW and we offer, not just lifestyle for baby boomers and retirees who are coming here now, but our demographic is shifting.
“This is a state-of-the art facility which will draw international students here and give our community a wonderfully vibrant, multicultural flavour as they immerse themselves into our community.
“By having a facility like this, families can stay together, and it doesn’t put pressure on people to have to leave the area to go and further their tertiary education.”
Member for Port Macquarie the Hon. Leslie Williams said she was honoured to unveil the first stage and looked forward to seeing what opportunities the development brings to the region.
“Charles Sturt University has a reputation for high-quality education and facilities in Port Macquarie,” Mrs Williams said.
“Today’s ceremony marks the next phase of the University providing opportunities for students to continue their education locally, as well as attract students from overseas when they are permitted to study in Australia again.
“The continuation of this development will benefit the University and the wider Port Macquarie community for years to come.”