THE NSW government has announced an agreement with the University of Newcastle at Gosford, the latest step in the University of Newcastle's expansion across the Central Coast.
The state's financial contribution is still being worked out but the federal government has already committed $18million, an amount university Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky said the institution would "at least match".
Design work would soon commence.
The university has a large campus at Ourimbah, and the site at the heart of yesterday's announcement is directly across the railway tracks from the university's new Clinical School and Research Institute on Showground Road, adjacent to Gosford Hospital.
The half-hectare site at 299 to 309 Mann Street includes a long-empty former Mitre 10 building that was identified as suitable for high-rise housing as recently as 2018 in a draft Development Control Plan for Gosford.
Then in April 2019 Professor Zelinsky announced the site would house a health, innovation and entrepreneurship precinct after federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced $18 million in funding for the project.
Yesterday, Professor Zelinsky said the university was "delighted to partner with the NSW Government to realise our shared vision for the creation of a new University of Newcastle campus in the heart of Gosford".
Also at the announcement were Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes, Skills and Training Minister Alister Henskens and Terrigal MP Adam Crouch from the NSW government, along with Liberal MP for the federal seat of Robertson, Lucy Wicks.
Mr Henskens said the University of Newcastle was identified as the preferred university partner for direct negotiations following an expression of interest process and evaluation.
He said the campus should be up and running within five years, "subject to successful commercial negotiations" with the university.
Ms Wicks said the funding "solidifies stage two of the university's Gosford campus, connected to the recently opened Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute".
Professor Zelinsky said the new facility would initially handle more than 1000 students with expectations of about 3000 in ten years' time. He said Ourimbah had been open for more than 30 years, educating 40,000 people since it began.
"We look forward to working with the Chamber of Commerce, Business NSW, the Local Health District, TAFE NSW and the NSW and federal governments to open this new chapter for the coast," Professor Zelinsky said.
"We'll offer courses supporting development of a health, innovation and education campus , working with business and industry to identify skill needs and gaps and provide work -integrated learning opportunities."
NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the NSW government had committed $18 million.
