Establishment of Charles Sturt University In

Establishment of Charles Sturt University in

Port Macquarie

Advice for Head Contractors for potential partnering with CSU

February 2014

1  Project Description

1.1  Background

1.1.1  CSU quick facts

·  National - Over 6000 students from outside NSW, the 6th largest university in Australia by head count

·  Number one Distance Education provider (70 per cent of enrolments)

·  Goals - Participation, Access, Regional Development, Professions, Skills Shortages, Applied Research

·  Course Profile - 360 courses in Health, Education, Business, Science, Communications, Creative Industries. Number one in Agriculture, Policing and Security, Early Childhood

·  Health Sciences - The most comprehensive range of health programs in the country, more than 70 per cent of CSU’s on-campus health students came from a rural or regional area, and more than 80 per cent of those students (over 90 per cent in some professional fields) commenced employment in a rural or regional area.

Our campuses and approach

CSU has campuses at the following locations: Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Canberra, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Parramatta, Wagga Wagga, Ontario, Port Macquarie, and Study Centres in Sydney and Melbourne.

The University achieves a sustainable, broad course profile and large enrolments across its main campuses by ensuring wherever possible that each has:

·  High profile ‘attracting’ courses (e.g. physiotherapy, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary science) which draws students from a wide geographic catchment;

·  Courses which have local sustainable demand (usually education; human services; business; nursing);

·  Courses which can be offered sustainably through a combination of face to face from locally employed staff and various cross campus teaching techniques, including Interactive Video Technology (IVT);

·  A complementary online and distance education load at each campus to strengthen student cohorts and allow for investment in a quality staff profile and infrastructure growth; and

·  Strong and effective TAFE pathways that provide multiple entry and exit points for students, supporting aspiration/participation and building cohort size.

This model has enabled Charles Sturt University to deliver the broad course profile needed to secure an average of around 50 per cent of local higher education entrants in its campus regions and build aspiration/participation across the local region.

1.1.2  CSU Port Macquarie – the story so far

2009-11 CSU

·  CSU was invited by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to participate with others in efforts to increase higher education opportunities in the Mid North Coast region.

·  Participated in the feasibility study to increase higher education offerings on the Mid North Coast.

·  Applied and received ~$14m ($12.9m for capital) in Commonwealth funding for infrastructure and support programs to establish a presence in Port Macquarie.

·  Established vision and phases for CSU in Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast.

In 2012 CSU

·  Opened an interim Campus at 27 Grant Street with initial offerings of four Bachelors programs integrated or articulated with TAFE Diplomas. On campus student services include general services and academic/study skills support.

·  Commenced extensive higher education aspiration and awareness programs on the Mid North Coast to build campus load though CSU’s Future Moves program.

·  Purchased land for the new permanent campus to be ready for teaching in 2015.

·  Negotiated use of local facilities to allow for the introduction of new Bachelors programs in health, bringing the total course profile to eight from 2013.

·  Provided proposals to the Commonwealth Government for infrastructure requirements to offer Dentistry and Oral Health Therapy at the new campus.

In 2013-2015 CSU will

·  Build direct CSU bachelor programs, with four new programs starting in 2013 and continue with the four Bachelors programs integrated or articulated with TAFE Diplomas.

·  Continue to teach out of leased premises

·  Build the main CSU Port Macquarie campus.

1.1.3  Why the Mid North Coast?

The Port Macquarie Local Government Area has a population of ~75,000, and the Mid North Coast region ~214,000 is expected to grow to ~260,000 in the next 20 years. There is very low aspiration and participation in higher education in the region.

A key component of CSU's strategic plan is tosupport the aspirations of students and communities for participation in higher education andprovide high quality graduates who meet professional workforce need.

CSU already has over 200 students from the Mid North Coast region studying by distance education or at its other campuses, and has developed a number of models to provide best and worst case student load modelling for the new campus. The Mid North Coast region is bigger than other CSU ‘catchments’ and projections suggest the potential for the region to support ~5000 Higher Education students (~3000 equivalent full time) by 2030.

1.1.4  CSU’s current vision for the Mid North Coast

A full-servicecampuswith a comprehensive course profileatPort Macquarie,for 5000 students by 2030. Thiscampus will:

·  Provide a genuine, sustainable and growing range of opportunities for students on the Mid North Coast;

·  Reduce the migration of regional students away from the Mid North Coast;

·  Increase participation in higher education in professional fields that are needed on the Mid North Coast;

·  Increase the number of skilled professionals working on the Mid North Coast;

·  Increase economic activity and employment on the Mid North Coast;

·  Make Port Macquarie a major centre for higher education and research in Australia.

Proposed Phases

At this stage of planning, the campus is expected to be similar in sizeto CSU’s currentAlbury-Wodongacampuswith equivalent services by 2030. Thispresenceis expected tobeundertakeninthe followingthreebroadphases:

·  Phase 1(2012-2014)-CSU will offer a range of degree programs and a drop-in support centre for distance education students in leased premisesduring 2012-14. These facilities should support about 3-400 (~250 EFTSL) students.The localcouncil library will manage CSU’s local physical collection. Student load at this campus requires about 120EFTSL to break even.

·  Phase 2(2015-2020)– About $12.9m inCommonwealth funds has been granted for the development of infrastructure to be ready for the 2015-17 student intake.At this stage, the funding is expected to be able to replicate the leased facilities and be predominantly general-purpose teaching spaces. Efforts are underway to secure funding (either external or internal) for discipline specific facilities to support a broad course profile including Allied Health (which is critical to the long term vision). The facilities are anticipated to have the capacity tosupport a student load of 1000students (700 EFTSL) in 2017-18 across at least 10 courses. An overall budget expenditure of $35m is expected throughout 2014 -2016

·  Phase 3 (2020-2030+) – A 'full service' campus i.e. broad course profile, library, cafes, social spaces and residential accommodation supporting 5000 students or 3000EFTSL.

1.1.5  Project Description

Stage 1 of the proposed new campus will consist of the following components:

·  A 24 hour learning commons;

·  Various teaching and learning spaces;

·  Staff office accommodation;

·  Indigenous Student Centre;

·  A specialist research centre for food soil and water;

·  Outdoor environments for socialising and learning; and

·  Carparking (approx. 350 spaces) for staff and students.

1.2  Selection Criteria

CSU is seeking to engage a Head Contractor to construct the first stage of the new campus. To succeed in being selected for submitting an Expression of Interest (Tender Phase 2) it is expected that the successful firm can demonstrate the following:

·  Experience with a range of contracting methods;

·  Experience with design management;

·  Experience with constructing regional University projects;

·  Experience with science and research facilities;

·  Demonstrated ability to establish a regional operation;

·  Demonstrated ability to deliver projects in excess of $25M

2  Current Activities

CSU have engaged APP Corporation as the Project Directors and BVN Donovan Hill as the Principal Design Consultant. The project is currently in the early stages of detailed design with a Development Application to be lodged with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on 20, February 2014.

3  Program

CSU is committed to completing the first phase of its developments in Port Macquarie in time for the 2015 teaching program and in broad terms seeks to be planning, documenting and tendering in 2013, building in 2014 and teaching in 2015.

A broad overview of key dates are:

·  Lodge Development Application – February 2014

·  Seek registrations of interest (Tender Phase 1) – March 2014

·  Industry briefing (Port Macquarie) – 13 or 14 March 2014

·  Seek detailed expression of interest (Tender Phase 2) – March 2014

·  Establish shortlist of Head Contractors – April 2014

·  Issue RFT (Tender Phase 3) for Head Contractors – April 2014

·  Completion of tender documentation – May 2014

·  Commence construction – June 2014

·  Construction completion – December 2015

4  Contacts

For more information on this exciting opportunity please contact

Mr Kirk Bolte

Project Director, APP Corporation

Phone 0409 132 195

For tendering and registration enquiries, please contact

Mrs Cheryl Honey

Procurement and Contracts Officer, Charles Sturt University

Ph 0269 334 347

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