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Further Master-Planned Growth Imminent
28 August 2004
One of the consequences of being awarded the growth numbers the
Commonwealth has allocated, and we have welcomed, is that we now
have to build rapidly to accommodate that growth and service the
needs of more students and staff.
The University Council last week decided to apply to Queensland
Treasury Corporation for a significant loan to fund the next two
stages of building. The University needs these two substantial
buildings as extensions to the master-planned axis.
One is needed for Science, to increase its specialist research
and teaching needs. The Science Faculty has attracted substantial
growth, and if those places are filled, then more laboratory space
will be a necessity. That building will need to be commenced soon,
preferably for completion as early as possible in 2006. It is our
next priority for construction and will extend along the axis next
to the current Science building.
Equally important will be the need for more lecture and tutorial
spaces in 2006. Over ninety new staff rooms will also be needed by
that stage, as current facilities and timetabled classes are under
strain. This building will be dependent on the actual envelope of
funding we acquire, but if it proceeds, it will likely face the
library between the current Administration building and the Faculty
of Arts and Social Science.
In anticipation of another rapid program for completion, some
weeks ago we advertised for architects and in the weeks ahead we
shall be interviewing the short-listed firms.
The University campus is one of the most highly regarded
architectural sites in the country and there has been extensive
interest from firms wanting to be involved with future stages, not
just from architects in South-East Queensland, but from all over
Australia.
In addition to the core academic buildings, there is also
increasing pressure for the University to partner with Maroochy
Shire Council, Education Queensland and private entrepreneurs to
share the cost of sporting, leisure and cultural infrastructure,
for which students, staff and the community are clamouring. As the
Sippy Downs community continues to grow these needs will become
even more obvious.
A further building is also needed to house anchor tenant firms
in the 'technology precinct'. That is also becoming an urgent
priority to cater for not only graduates from the successful
incubator in the Innovation Centre, but also to attract new firms,
either local or from further afield, who are interested in linking
their Research and Development activities with the University's
academic programs.
This period of rapid development ahead will undoubtedly place
pressure on our environmentally important campus.
I am hoping that nearby residents will respect these interests
and not endanger the kangaroo population, for example, by allowing
domestic animals on the campus. This is happening too frequently
and we may have to consider a stricter system of fines if
University land rules are breached. It may be the only way we can
protect the natural environment.
So we are on track to further develop the campus as a
sub-tropical architectural laboratory that respects the needs, both
of University personnel and the master-planned green belt through
the University to the National Park.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast