* NSW Government contributes $15 million dedicated to new facilities at Port Macquarie campus

* Student numbers expected to almost triple, including more than 400 new international students places

* CSU in Port Macquarie will be the largest international education centre in regional NSW

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie will become the largest international teaching and learning centre in regional NSW, with today’s funding announcement from the NSW Government.

Along with the University’s $46 million commitment, the NSW Government will contribute $15 million toward the next phase of the campus as part of the Restart NSW Growing Local Economies Fund.
State Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams, delivered the announcement this morning.

Mrs Williams said that the funds will be dedicated to building new facilities at the Port Macquarie Campus, featuring science and digital labs, teaching spaces and a business innovation hub.

“The teaching and learning centre will also include training facilities for key emergency services, enabling regional NSW first responders to gain professional qualifications without travelling to Sydney,” Mrs Williams said.

“This expansion will provide even more opportunities for students to study tertiary degrees without needing to move, while international students spending money locally will boost the local economy.”

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said the University was grateful for the support of the NSW government.

“We appreciate the support from the NSW Government which will enable facilities and infrastructure to be built for the expanding range of courses and to help us deliver our 2030 vision for the Port Macquarie campus.

“This phase of development will allow student numbers to almost triple, including more than 400 new international student places,” Professor Vann said.

Professor Vann also confirmed the expansion will enable the Port Macquarie campus to offer a Bachelor of Nursing from 2020.

“Regional health care needs have grown in recent years and as a University right here on the doorstep of the mid north coast, it’s important for us to serve the professions our region needs.

”The more space we have means the more courses we can offer, the more students we can educate, and the more services and skills we can invest back into the region,” Professor Vann said.

The International Port Macquarie Education Centre project aligns to the NSW Government's commitment to developing regional infrastructure to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services in communities.

Professor Vann said the project, when complete in February 2021, will see a healthy impact on the local economy, with University and student spend to reach $80 million per annum, with multiple flow-on effects throughout the region.

“We’ve been in Port Macquarie for only seven years and now have over 1000 students,” Professor Vann said.

“We’ve doubled the number of students since our last economic impact study in 2016 – we can’t keep up with demand.

”The next seven years will see 1800 more students along with 80 more staff, and support for local innovation, a truly exciting time to be living, working and studying in Port Macquarie.”

More information

The $500 million Growing Local Economies Fund is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to the delivery of infrastructure projects which improve the productivity and competitiveness of the state under Restart NSW.

Growing Local Economies is one of the programs in the $1.6 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is delivering the economic, infrastructure and lifestyle improvements that make regional NSW a great place to live, work and play.

For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/regionalgrowth