CSU released the Western Research Institute commissioned report as part of Foundation Day celebrations in Port Macquarie on July 18.

The report aims is to quantify the economic impact of CSU’s operations and the expenditure of non-local students on the region.

Pro-vice chancellor global engagement Heather Cavanagh, said it was great to be able to quantify the impact CSU is having on the local community.

“The Economic Impact Report is something we do every few years as a university to asses how we are placing in the community,” Professor Cavanagh said.

“We look at Gross Regional Product that we bring to the region and obviously Port Macquarie is still in the very early stages because we are still a small campus, but by doing it across the university it is possible to translate where Port Macquarie is now and where we can go.”

In 2016 in Port Macquarie, the university employed 115 full time employees with 566 students enrolled, 47 percent of which were local to the area before commencing their studies.

The report also said the economic impact of expenditure by internal local students attending the Port Macquarie campus was estimated at $3 million in household income and equated to 21 full time equivalent jobs in the local region.

Professor Cavanagh said the difference from the first Economic Impact Report to this one is remarkable.

“The difference between this report and the last report is that last time we had contributed $1.8 million and now we are nearly $20 million,” she said.

“And that is only going to massively increase as the campus grows and Stage Two and Stage Three are developed and Port Macquarie becomes the biggest CSU campus.

“So only good things to come.”

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said she was delighted to have a CSU campus in her electorate.

“If you don’t create strong connections with all levels of government and the community then it can be hard for projects to get off the ground, but with the CSU campus in Port Macquarie the community has been kept informed at every step,” Mrs Williams said.

“The impact the university is having in the region socially is quite significant as well as the benefits to the broader community.

“Universities face incredible challenges at a national level but locally the university has a strong future ahead.”

Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peta Pinson thanked CSU for investing in the Port Macquarie region.

“CSU is an important leader in our local community and I can personally vouch for the positive impact the university has brought to the local economy and our towns,” Cr Pinson said.

“We have transformed into a university town with more and more students moving to the area which we are all benefiting from.”