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Australia’s national university and its national capital are to become closer under a new land deal.
Signed in December, a Heads of Agreement between the ACT Government and ANU will pave the way for the creation of a modern education, research, accommodation and commercial precinct in Canberra’s City West area.
The deal will see ANU grow to include land between the campus and Civic, mainly between the existing ANU boundary and Marcus Clark Street. One of the first developments (artist's impression above) will provide accommodation for 350 students.
“This agreement gives ANU vital room to grow and by integrating the campus with the heart of Canberra, it will bring Australia’s leading university closer to the Australian people,” said ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb.
The agreement is expected to ensure that the progressive development of vacant land on the city fringe of the University campus is consistent with the interests of ANU, the community, business and the ACT Government, which has welcomed the deal.
“There can be no denying that in terms of business, the ANU is amongst the biggest in our city,” said ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.
In all, seven areas of vacant land are covered by the agreement and will be developed by the University over the next 10 years.
The proposed accommodation will offer studio, two, three and five-bedroom self-contained apartments.
It will also provide support facilities that are expected to include a bistro, common recreation areas, laundry facilities, state of the art electronic security and a high level of pastoral care for students. It is part of the University’s response to a forecast increase in student numbers, particularly at the postgraduate level. The facility is due for completion in 2006.
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