ANDREW Barr and UC Vice Chancellor Stephen Parker have signed a new partnership between the University of Canberra and the ACT Government which they say signals a green light for development on the campus worth $1 billion.

“The university sector is a major part of the ACT economy. It makes sense for us to play to our strengths as we build a more diverse economy. The university that bears Canberra’s name should thrive and this agreement spells out our shared vision to see the University of Canberra enhance its international reputation for providing a high quality student experience, being financially sustainable and making a positive contribution to the Canberra community,” Andrew said.

“The statement details how the government will work with the University to help it diversify its operations, develop its campus and attract like-minded organisations to share its largely-undeveloped 120 hectare site. In turn, this will help it become even more attractive to students and academics.

“This is all about creating jobs – jobs building campus developments, jobs working for new campus-based organisations and jobs in research and teaching. It is about creating a smart workforce with the skills our economy needs.

“I’ve already introduced legislation to modernise the University of Canberra Act, which would broaden the functions of the University, for example by allowing it to develop property and by making it clear it can provide cultural and sporting services. The new legislation also modernises how the University is governed, for example by allowing the University Council to delegate more broadly and by providing for the filling of casual vacancies on the Council.

“Today’s agreement commits the government to further legislative changes which remove unnecessary constraints on the University, but contain safeguards to ensure responsible development. This will pave the way for UC to achieve the vision set out in its Masterplan.

These changes include:

• varying the University campus crown lease to modernise it and to enable the University to use the land for any purpose permitted by the Territory Plan;
• seeking to create a new precinct code under the Territory Plan that is consistent with the University’s Campus Master Plan and Implementation Plan;
• achieving economic balance by limiting non-student residential development on the University’s campus to no more than 3,300 dwellings and restricting the number of such dwellings that can be offered for sale in a 12-month period to 200 or such other number as approved by the Government;
• enabling the University to unlock the potential of the University campus while preserving the integrity of its perpetual Crown lease, by restructuring the titling model that applies to the University’s campus to allow particular subleases granted by the University to be unit titled;

“Senior government representatives will work with the University to deliver the plan and I will continue to meet regularly with Professor Parker.

“To support today’s agreement, the government will introduce a suite of legislative changes over the next six months to enable wider uses and greater development of the Bruce campus, including more commercial development of university property. Expanding the UC’s functions will clarify that the University may provide services to benefit the broader community. Facilitating commercial development of its property will create a greater range of economic opportunities and stimulate economic activity in the ACT region.”