CBD uni plan gets traders excited, but Bankstown needs to ‘step up’
A vertical university campus will be a “game changer” for Bankstown CBD, says David Borger, Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber.
The Express
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A vertical university campus will be a “game changer” for Bankstown CBD, says David Borger, Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber.
Last week, Western Sydney University announced a new campus, hosting up to 5000 students, will be built in Bankstown CBD by 2021.
The location is still being decided, with the university looking at a number of “viable options” in consultation with Canterbury-Bankstown Council.
The investment, along with WSU’s upcoming Liverpool CBD campus, is forecast to inject a combined $54 million into southwest Sydney.
It is expected WSU will close the Bankstown campus in Milperra to shift the operations closer to Bankstown train station.
Mr Borger said WSU’s investment will be an opportunity for Bankstown to be brought “into the current century”.
“Frankly, Bankstown is a mess,” Mr Borger said.
“Bankstown needs to leverage this investment by fixing the town centre and making it a great place to live.
“It’s an opportunity for retailers to take advantage of the opportunity that a university brings — cool coffee shop, cafes — all those things students want.”
Mr Borger said when the CBD is being built, the state government should sink the Bankstown rail line, which he described as “Bankstown’s Berlin Wall”.
“Push it underground, unite the two sides and bring the tribes together,” he said.
Bankstown CBD will be WSU’s newest “vertical campus”.
In January the university opened the 14-storey Shergold building in the heart of Parramatta and Liverpool’s CBD campus is set to open in February.
Western Sydney University vice-chancellor Barney Glover said the Bankstown model would be “very similar” to Parramatta’s 14-storey Shergold building, but smaller at 12,000-16,000 sqm.
Professor Glover said CBD locations are “crucially important” to meeting the future needs and expectations of the region.
“We believe the CBD location being close to transport and amenities will provide us with the best possible connection to business, industry and government for students,” he said.
The construction of the Bankstown CBD is likely to spell the eventual closure of Milperra campus with Prof Glover saying WSU is looking into “future options” at the campus.
Current courses based at Milperra have already begun to be transferred, with all social science students to move to Liverpool campus as early as 2018.
Professor Glover said Bankstown CBD could also absorb some of the programs if the site is closed.
Last week, Canterbury-Bankstown Ccouncil signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the university to help ensure that the Bankstown CBD campus plans go ahead.
CEO of South West Bankstown Chamber of Commerce Wally Mehanna said it was an exciting opportunity for Bankstown.
“We welcome this kind of growth opportunity and investment from Western Sydney University,” Mr Mehanna said.
“It is a significant sign of investment into our region which is rich in both blue and white collar opportunities.”
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