University of Newcastle campus a critical anchor for Central Coast Innovation District

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Innovation districts

Gosford’s new state-of-the-art University of Newcastle campus is a step closer today following the signing of the final agreement between the NSW Government and the University of Newcastle. This new campus offers new opportunities for local students and will become a critical anchor in the development of the Central Coast’s innovation district.

Innovation districts are built on the interactions and collaborations with anchor tenants such as hospitals and universities, so attracting a university campus to Gosford was identified as a key priority under the recently released Central Coast Strategy for Economic Growth.

The Greater Cities Commission’s Economic Commissioner John Lydon said the announcement signalled “the beginning of a supercharged innovation revolution.”

The new campus will be built at 299-309 Mann Street Gosford, with funding from the NSW Government, Commonwealth Government and the University of Newcastle. The location is just north of the Gosford train station in the city centre and close to the bus interchange and the Gosford waterfront.

Offering a multi-faculty academic and innovation facility and encompassing a 4,200 sqm building, the campus will welcome 900 total students over ten years, improving access to new career and skills development in the region. The campus will also attract new residents to the region, which will help drive the urban amenity, services, and the development of a 24-hour economy in Gosford,

Describing the link between the campus’ Education and Employment Precinct and the nearby Gosford Health and Wellbeing precinct, Mr Lydon said: “These two precincts will connect to underpin the development of the Central Coast’s innovation district, which will drive knowledge creation, and talent development and industry collaboration.”

University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO welcomed the news and the opportunity for more people to study locally.

“This new campus gives us the opportunity to increase educational participation rates, generate new jobs, support emerging industries, develop the health services workforce, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said.

The University of Newcastle anticipates that the campus will be operational by 2025.

Explore our Central Coast Strategy for Economic Growth.

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