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July 18, 2013
Issue 25
Education Precinct Preliminary Project Plan endorsed It is envisaged the yong Council is planning to create a vibrant education, students. development would It would also see industry and business precinct at Warnervale, capable of employ 1,500 staff plus the co-alignment of providing university-level courses to 7,000 students and 1,500 support services and education with training education sector jobs.
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The initiative has taken its first step towards becoming reality, with council endorsing a Preliminary Project Plan which will develop a masterplan for the Council-owned land at Warnervale. “This is a unique opportunity for council and the community,” Wyong mayor Cr Doug Eaton said. Cr Eaton also said the initiative would benefit the young people of the Central Coast and create a huge boost for local employment and business. According to Cr Greg Best, the initiative would particularly benefit those who have to leave the Central Coast because their chosen disciplines of tertiary study are not available in the region. “We are not going to be an exporter of commuters,” Cr Best said. “One day, we are going to be an importer of employers.” Council has drawn on
successful international education-focused development, such as Education City in SouthEast Queensland and the Education City in Qatar, and envisions creating a regionally significant integrated development. Key components of
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the development would include a university campus for 7,000 students with an emphasis on science, engineering and technology based studies, a residential college for 1,500 students and retail, sport and recreation and language facilities for
providers and businessindustry groups, as well as the establishment of a business/industrial park which would integrate with the university campus and explore linkages for employment generation and research and development.
retail providers. On a recent delegation to China, Cr Eaton visited the largest university city in the world in Wuhan, home to multiple university campuses and a total student population of over one million. “It was incredible to
see how this satellite city is thriving with the energy of all those students and how this flows on to stimulate the local economy,” Cr Eaton said. “The spin offs extend to the tourism sector, with increased visits from the families of students and prospective students and university-based events.” The initial driver for investment in the proposed Warnervale precinct will focus on securing a university to anchor the development and attract complementary service providers and businesses. “On this front, we are already looking good with council having already received an expression of interest from a reputable international investor, which I think demonstrates that this is a viable project,” Cr Eaton said. “I’m very optimistic that we have the right conditions to transform higher education on the Central Coast.” An economic feasibility study will be completed by September 2013. Media release, 11 Jul 2013, Wyong Shire Council
University city in Wuhan China, a model for the proposed Warnervale university
The Central Coast