UNSW Canberra City welcomes legislation

UNSW Canberra has welcomed the introduction of the legislation today relating to the establishment of the UNSW Canberra City campus. UNSW is committed to build a world-class research, education and innovation campus in the heart of Canberra city.

UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs said the introduction of legislation could not have come at a better time for Canberra.

“I am pleased that this initiative will strengthen Canberra’s economy and employment and will assist in the recovery from the current challenges.

“UNSW has a more than 50-year history of delivering outstanding education and research in Canberra. This new campus will enable us to take the scale and quality of our involvement in Canberra to a new level,” he said.  

UNSW Canberra Rector Professor Michael Frater said the news of the introduction of legislation allows plans for the new campus to move ahead.

“We have just completed a period of community consultation. This involved the gathering of ideas and information from the local community that will be used to inform the development of the Campus Master Plan that will guide the planning and construction of the UNSW Canberra City campus.

“I want to thank all the community members who took the time to share their ideas and thoughts with the team, especially during these particularly uncertain times we have found ourselves in. It was great to see the level of engagement that occurred as we took our consultation online and we look forward to continuing the conversation as we move along with the project,” he said.

UNSW Canberra City will be built in stages to accommodate future growth and is located in the middle of Canberra’s research and innovation corridor, situated with other like-minded institutions such as the Defence and Intelligence Headquarters in Russell, and the Australian Academy of Science and Canberra Innovation Network in the city centre.

“UNSW Canberra City will also be home to a new Defence and Security Innovation Precinct. The dedicated innovation precinct will allow academics, companies, government bodies and community to come together to develop defence and security capability, talent and technology.”

“We have already begun to set this plan into motion with the opening of Launch on Northbourne, our collaborative workspace that has already proven to be a successful start to future operations on the new campus,” Professor Frater said.