• NSW Premier officially opens the $66 million Stage 2 development at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie
• State-of-the-art facility will increase the campus capacity from 1,000 to 2,800 students to study vital courses like nursing, teaching, and paramedicine
• The development will provide educational, research and collaborative opportunities to benefit students and the wider community

NSW Premier, the Hon. Ms Gladys Berejiklian, today officially opened the $66 million Stage 2 development at Charles Sturt University’s Port Macquarie campus.

Ms Berejiklian unveiled the newly-completed development, which has increased the campus’s capacity from 1,000 students to 2,800, making it the largest international campus in NSW outside the metropolitan cities.

“The opening of the Stage 2 development of Charles Sturt University’s campus is a landmark in education for Port Macquarie and for the Mid North Coast,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The NSW Government is proud to invest in state-of-the-art facilities that connect the University’s teaching, learning and research capabilities with local businesses and support the creation and development of new businesses in Port Macquarie.”

The ceremony revealed the $21 million Stage 2B of the development, which includes the Port Macquarie International Education Centre, a NSW Emergency Services training room, an Innovation Hub and co-working spaces, and student support and amenity services facilities.

Stage 2A of the development was opened in October 2020 by Member for Port Macquarie, the Hon Mrs Leslie Williams, and includes learning and teaching spaces, tiered lecture theatres, event space, technology studio, engineering and sciences labs, a student gym, and staff offices.

The entire Stage Two development, built over 6,300 square metres, was co-funded by the University and the NSW Government’s Regional Growth Fund’s Growing Local Economies program, which was established under the Restart NSW Fund.

Ms Berejiklian was joined at the event by Mrs Williams Member for Port Macquarie; Charles Sturt University Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Germov; Uncle Bill O’Brien OAM; and 100 other government, University and community leaders and guests.

Professor Germov said the completed development provided educational, research and collaborative opportunities which students and the wider community would benefit from.

“This is a state-of-the-art facility, one which will enable Charles Sturt University to attract a far greater number of students to the beautiful Mid North Coast to study vital courses like nursing, teaching, and paramedicine,” he said.

“Not only will the resulting increase in student numbers further enhance the campus’s already stellar reputation, domestically and internationally, for quality education, it will provide an ongoing boost to the region’s economy.

“I am delighted and honoured to help unveil this world-class facility with the Premier, the Member for Port Macquarie, and so many others who have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition.”

Mrs Williams said the new development will also offer a NSW Emergency Services training room to enhance practical learning.

“This specialised training facility will also support Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Security, and Paramedicine courses offered at the campus and allow students to have access to frontline industry,” she said.

Stage 2B includes:

• An Innovation Hub and co-working space, which connects the University’s teaching, learning and research capabilities with local businesses and supporting the creation and development of new businesses, including technology firms in Port Macquarie
• A NSW Emergency Services training room that will support Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Security and Paramedicine courses offered at the campus, and which will also be made available to Resilience NSW, NSW Police, SES, Ambulance and other emergency service providers for professional development, collaboration and exercises
• Student support and amenity services
• Staff offices and associated facilities

The Stage 2 development strengthens Charles Sturt’s commitment to its Clean Energy Strategy and sustainability practices, with all of the development’s roofs featuring extensive solar arrays and integration into the natural landscape.

Discussions are taking place with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to further develop walking and cycling paths through the bushland around the campus to support the community’s connection with the emerging Health and Education Precinct.