ANDREW Barr has announced his intention to enact new legislation next year to help the University of Canberra expand its commercial activities.

“This week cabinet agreed to a range of measures, including modernising the University of Canberra Act 1989, to turbocharge the University’s future business activities and create an expanded range of education and research opportunities,” Andrew said.

“By updating the University of Canberra Act to reflect and enhance its innovative and entrepreneurial activities we will bring more students, more researchers, more investment and more jobs to the ACT.

“The changes will be the catalyst for millions of dollars of investment in the campus, with the University working towards a technology park, a health cluster incorporating aged care facilities and a private hospital, and innovative housing developments that feed into the University’s teaching in research in design and planning.

“The modernised UC Act will expand the functions of UC so that they clearly include provision of cultural, sporting, professional, technical and vocational services to the community. This to a large degree describes activities already undertaken on the campus: for example the new Sporting Commons and fitness facilities, which are used for community and elite sport, plus research and training.

“In addition to updating the UC Act, the ACT Government will make further legislative changes to enable subleasing part of the land held under the University of Canberra lease and ensure accelerated development approval processes.”