Charles Sturt University (CSU) has announced its planned purchase of land for a permanent campus at Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid-North Coast.

 

Contracts for the land sale have been exchanged between CSU and Coles Group Property Developments Limited, the owner of Lots 2 and 3 on Major Innes Road in Port Macquarie. Settlement of the deal is expected in coming months.

 

Executive Director of the University’s Division of Facilities Management, Mr Stephen Butt, said, “The 2.5 hectare greenfield site at the rear of Coles Supermarket on Major Innes Road offers easy access and capacity for Charles Sturt University to grow to meet the needs of the NSW Mid-North Coast.”

 

The Head of CSU in Port Macquarie, Professor Ross Chambers said, “It’s wonderful that a location has been selected for our campus on the Mid-North Coast. The site will give Charles Sturt University space to fulfil the vision of around 5 000 students in Port Macquarie as the region’s educational aspirations expands in the next 10 to 15 years.”  

 

Mr Butt said, “The purchase of land by Charles Sturt University follows extensive research by local consultants, King and Campbell and D R Munro with the firms assisting us in a range of due diligence and planning assessments on the site.”

 

A meeting will be held in Port Macquarie on Tuesday 11 September between Mr Butt and local council planning staff to discuss the pre-Development Application Lodgement.

 

“The next stage for the University will be to appoint master planning consultants who will develop the strategic concepts and progressively move into detailed design and documentation over the coming months,” Mr Butt said.

 

In parallel with the Major Innes Road location for a permanent site for Charles Sturt University, Mr Butt said CSU is currently working with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council in looking at the feasibility of establishing an inner city university precinct.

 

Construction of a permanent Port Macquarie Campus is scheduled for 2014, with students to use the new facilities in 2015. CSU received federal government support under its Structural Adjustment Fund to assist in the establishment of a permanent campus at Port Macquarie.

 

CSU officially commenced operations in Port Macquarie earlier this year and is currently located in leased facilities in Grant Street in Port Macquarie’s central business district.

 

In August, CSU announced it is doubling its 2012 course offerings in 2013, with four new courses available for full-time study on campus in Port Macquarie. Read more on CSU News here.  

 

Read more about the opportunities for study at CSU in Port Macquarie here.