The Central Coast is on track for a major boost to education, jobs and liveability with the NSW Government securing the University of Newcastle as the preferred partner to deliver a Gosford university campus.
Minister for Infrastructure and Cities Rob Stokes said the campus would become the jewel in the crown of the new Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct.
“The Central Coast has all of the building blocks to be an economic and innovation powerhouse – proximity to Sydney and Newcastle, established local industries, health and transport infrastructure and a great lifestyle,” Mr Stokes said.
“The region is an important part of our six cities vision and we will make the Central Coast a premier destination to live, study, work and invest.”
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the University of Newcastle was identified as the preferred university partner for direct negotiations following an expression of interest process and evaluation.
“Building a university campus in the heart of the new Gosford city centre has strong community support and will increase access to education and employment opportunities close to home, creating a pipeline of skilled workers,” Mr Henskens said.
“Our universities were heavily impacted by the pandemic and developing the Central Coast’s higher education capability will help attract other education institutions and businesses to the region.”
Subject to successful commercial negotiations with the University of Newcastle, the campus is expected to be up and running within five years.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said the university campus would deliver local jobs and give local students an opportunity to get a world-class education without commuting.
“We’re growing the Central Coast as a world-class health precinct by improving health services and research opportunities right across our region,” Mr Crouch said.
Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said the design, development, construction and fit-out of the Gosford university campus extension will be funded by an $18 million injection from the Federal Government that was announced in 2019.
“Connected to the recently opened Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute, this announcement solidifies stage two of the University of Newcastle’s Gosford campus,” Ms Wicks said.
“When all levels of government work together, we really can achieve great things for our region.”
The proposed campus will be developed on a 4,650 square metre site at
299-309 Mann St, Gosford.
