It’s all systems go for a university campus in the heart of Gosford, after the NSW Department of Planning approved an application this week for the $58M project.
The University of Newcastle Central Coast Campus will be built on the site of the former Mitre 10 building at 305 Mann St, Gosford, and is expected to be completed by 2025.
Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky said the announcement solidifies the University’s ongoing commitment to the Central Coast and is an exciting step towards the continued revitalisation of the Gosford CBD.
“Working together with the local community, business and industry, our new Central Coast Campus will act as an anchor in the reinvigoration of the region and will deliver a welcome injection into the local economy,” Zelinsky said.
“This will help generate new jobs and will also help to bolster the region’s existing workforce and attract more significant investment back to the Central Coast.
“We’re thrilled to have marked this milestone and have a formal green light for this critical project, which will allow students across the region to build their skills and earn a degree without leaving the Central Coast.
“We look forward to the project progressing as we work towards welcoming our first students in 2025.”
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said she was thrilled construction would begin on the campus in the immediate future.
“In addition to the existing Clinical School and Research Institute, the Mann St campus (will offer) world class educational opportunities for our Central Coast community right in the heart of Gosford,” she said.
“I had the wonderful opportunity to view the plans for the site and I applaud the design team for bringing the beauty of our Central Coast environment into the built environment of the campus’s design.
“I am thrilled to have this hub of innovation and architectural design in our city centre.”
The new, three-storey campus will be close to Gosford Railway Station and bus terminal, and will include a small retail area, café and accessible open space for the community.
The approval includes the potential for the reuse of bricks from the existing heritage listed Mitre 10 building which will be demolished.
The development is predicted to generate up to 95 construction jobs and once completed will cater for about 660 students with a staff of 48.
Classes are expected to run between 8am and 9pm Monday-Friday.
Construction is expected to begin on the new campus later this year, with funding support from the Federal and State Governments.
For more information on this project visit: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/engage/development-projects/central-coast-campus
Terry Collins