University of Sydney tipped to build 18,000-student campus at Cumberland Hospital
EXCLUSIVE: THE University of Sydney is tipped to revive plans to build a campus in Western Sydney as the State Government puts parts of Cumberland Hospital up for sale. An extra 18,000 people could be studying and living within the region if the plan comes to fruition.
Parramatta
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LAND in North Parramatta is up for grabs to create Australia’s best medical, education and innovation precinct in what has been dubbed a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.
The State Government wants industry, academia and the wider community network to put their money where there mouth is to create the precinct, alongside proposed residential and restoration of the heritage core, including the national heritage-listed Female Factory.
Market sounding will allow the region to “pick and choose” the cream of the crop from applicants. The process tests the market’s appetite in an attempt to help deliver the government’s vision for the precinct.
The east and west campuses at Cumberland Hospital and a few surrounding lands are available for development. And, if the University of Sydney has its way, will be front and centre, building an 18,000-student campus.
Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said record investment in Parramatta and recent policy decisions had allowed this unique process to begin.
Start ups, scale ups, delivery partners, landlords, education and research bodies or institutes, government agencies, nonprofits and private sector accommodation providers and builders are among those who can apply in the six-week window the process.
He said the opportunity to combine the Parramatta North Growth Centre and Westmead Hospital Innovation Precinct was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for western Sydney.
“Our vision is to make Westmead one of the world’s largest medical, education and innovation precincts,” Mr Lee said.
“This will deliver new high-quality places to live, with connected transport, shopping and recreational facilities and great jobs.
“This includes jobs and homes for future generations working in disciplines like science, technology, engineering and research.”
The university’s interest was confirmed in November when its vice-chancellor Michael Spence was given permission to “draw up detailed designs” for a second campus.
The sites the university flagged the North Parramatta site to build its second campus but they’ve been held up due to negotiations with the State Government to secure suitable land.
If the University is successful, they’ll be competing for student enrolments. University of NSW, Macquarie University and Western Sydney University already have a presence in western Sydney.
But, the University of Sydney has a monopoly on the market, with the third-highest number of student enrolments in Australia, behind Monash and RMIT, both Victorian universities.
The university’s medical facility in Westmead currently supports some 1600 students and 1200 researchers and, a second multidisciplinary campus would offer a full compliment of courses.
“The university has decided Westmead should not merely be a health campus, but over time it will be the second home of the University of Sydney — a whole second campus,” University of Sydney’s vice-chancellor Dr Michael Spence told media late last year.
This is confirmed on the university’s website where it states a key focus of its strategic growth is “in and for western Sydney”.
Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney director David Borger said Cumberland had the potential to become one of Sydney’s great university campuses.
“I think it makes perfect sense to connect a university with the smart jobs at Westmead,” he said.
“Westmead has the potential to be like the Boston of Australia in terms of the medical precinct with a big university and focus on research, biotech and medtech.
“We’re going the high road to hunt for knowledge jobs … it’ll be super connected to the grid of Sydney with a metro stop and light rail stop.
“It’ll be an amazing university precinct … think Grounds of Alexandria but with a campus.”
Mr Borger said it will be a game changer for western Sydney.
“The market sounding represents a clear change of direction with more of a focus on jobs and education and less focus on housing.”
Health Infrastructure NSW and UrbanGrowth NSW will complete the market sounding process which will be overseen by Ernst and Young over a six week period which started on Tuesday.
While it’s not community consultation, it’s possible there will be people or businesses within the broader community who can respond to the NSW Government’s strategic vision.
The heritage core at the North Parramatta site will remain in public ownership.
FAST FACTS
● Parramatta North is a 30 hectare site that will create homes and jobs to support the growth of Sydney’s second CBD
● The $310 million renewal includes heritage works, rehabilitation of the river foreshore, creating new public open spaces and infrastructure such as roads, cycleways and playgrounds
● Details: ugdc.nsw.gov.au/marketsounding
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