Major step for WSU Bankstown Campus

A major step has been taken in the proposal to construct a new world-class vertical university campus, in Bankstown’s CBD.

City of Canterbury Bankstown provided in-principle support for a Planning Proposal to progress through to the NSW Government, which will assess whether it is placed on public exhibition, so residents can have their say.

Mayor Khal Asfour said the proposal is part of the transformation of CBCity, but to ensure the right outcome is achieved, there is some more work to be done by Western Sydney University.

“Such a development will be fantastic, not only for Canterbury-Bankstown but Western Sydney, with a new university campus that will provide opportunities for local students, but we must get this right,” he said.

The project includes:

Western Sydney University is wanting to build its new campus on a two-and-half-thousand square metre site, owned by Council, located between Council’s administration building and its award-winning Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre.

“The new campus will almost single-handedly transform Bankstown’s CBD, injecting tens of millions of dollars into the local economy every year, creating more local jobs, and further supporting Canterbury-Bankstown’s status as an education and health precinct. (The NSW Government has also promised to build a new $1.3 billion hospital in Bankstown),” Mayor Asfour said.

“Local industries will benefit by working directly with WSU and the new hospital, to ensure students are ‘job-ready’ and fully trained for the roles on offer in Canterbury-Bankstown. Graduates then have the option to continue to live locally.

“Our Connective City 2036 planning strategy, which is currently on public exhibition until 15 November, establishes the opportunities for new housing and jobs across the City, providing our new graduates with the option to continue to live and work locally.”