Safety fears for Bankstown students forced to Liverpool campus

WESTERN Sydney University students are concerned about the impending closure of their Milperra campus and the transfer of courses to Liverpool — saying safety and parking are issues.

Students from Western Sydney University's Bankstown Campus at Milperra have raised concerns with the impending closure of their campus. Picture: Supplied

• New Bankstown CBD announced

STUDENTS are concerned about the impending closure of Western Sydney University’s Milperra campus.

Last month WSU announced a new “vertical campus” would be built in Bankstown CBD.

The campus is expected to host up to 5000 students, with many transferred from the Milperra campus.

WSU held a meeting to inform students about the move, but many were unable to attend.

Last week the Bankstown Student Campus Council at Western Sydney University held two forums about the future of the Milperra campus, to help spread the word.

“There is a bit of disappointment that there wasn’t much consultation given to students or staff,” the campus council’s Oliver Pocock said.

“A lot of students didn’t know about it.”

An artist's impression of what the WSU Liverpool Campus will look like.

Current courses based at Milperra are already being transferred, with all midwifery, nursing and social science students to move to Liverpool campus as early as 2018.

The Bankstown CBD campus has an estimated completion date of 2020-2021, by which time it is envisaged that operations at the Milperra campus will have completely moved to the new Bankstown CBD campus.

But with limited parking available at Liverpool, Mr Pocock said many were worried about student safety.

“Liverpool is not the safest area after dark,” Mr Pocock said.

“A lot of students are concerned about having to walk to stations or buses after classes at dark, particularly in the wake of the Australian Human Rights Commission report.”

The AHRC report, released last month, revealed that 51 per cent of university students were sexually harassed at least once in 2016 — 25 per cent in a university setting.

A WSU spokeswoman said the safety of its students and staff is its highest priority.

“We are working with all stakeholders, including Liverpool City Council, to ensure student and staff safety within Liverpool, including the commute to the Liverpool City Campus,” the spokeswoman said.

Independent candidate for council Jacquie Dredge is campaigning against the closure of the Milperra campus, where she studied from 2010-2013.

Independent candidate for council Jacquie Dredge is rallying against the closure of the campus as part of her campaign.

She was the first in her family to attend university, and went to WSU Bankstown from 2010-2013.

Ms Dredge is concerned about what will happen to the campus once it is sold.

“It’s such a beautiful green open space that will become another concrete development,” Ms Dredge said.

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE OVER BREAST PROCEDURE

“But I think it’s not just the loss of the beautiful grounds, if it’s sold for housing the traffic impact will be horrendous.”

WSU said no decisions have been made on the future of the site, with the university exploring “a range of options.”