THE official planning approval for the building phase of a multi-million campus is the latest landmark in Charles Sturt University’s commitment to Port Macquarie.
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The building works component of the Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie Campus, approved on Wednesday, will deliver a three-level building with learning commons, general teaching spaces, indigenous student centre, a food, soil and water research centre and office accommodation.
The university’s first stage will accommodate up to 770 equivalent full-time students and 72 full-time equivalent staff on land off Major Innes Road.
The Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel conditionally approved the $29 million development application on Wednesday. Charles Sturt University facilities executive director Stephen Butt said this week’s development application approval was a major milestone in the construction program.
“We’ve been able to work with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and achieve a good outcome,” he said.
Mr Butt said the project was on track for completion by December next year.
“We are grateful of the support of the council and the community through this process,” Mr Butt said.
Landscaping will include a central courtyard, indigenous garden and amphitheatre.
There will be parking for 336 vehicles and up to 44 bicycles.
Construction company Watpac won the contract to build stage one of the campus.
Planning panel chairman Garry West said the development would add further to Port Macquarie being a key education hub for the Mid-North Coast and generator of jobs.
“In approving this development, we have considered the clear economic and social benefits of the projects and the effort made to balance these against impacts on the site,” Mr West said. The panel’s decision noted the rural zoned areas of the development site were no longer suitable for viable
agricultural purposes and the proposal would fit into the locality.
An early works package for the Innes Peninsula site had been previously approved.
The university aims to develop a purpose-built campus for up to 5000 students by 2030.
The later stages will be subject to separate applications.
Charles Sturt University established an interim campus at Grant Street in 2012 and added a second teaching area at Munster Street this year.