By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Federation University has expansive plans for its Berwick campus including a business technology park, says strategic director Greg Jakob.
The campus’s strategies are also compatible with a draft Berwick Health and Education Precinct Development Plan for 122 hectares on either side of Clyde Road.
Mr Jakob said the university – which began as a TAFE-like institution in Ballarat 140 years ago – looked forward to working with precinct neighbours Chisholm Institute, Casey Hospital, St John of God Private Hospital and the business community.
“From the university’s perspective, we’re very supportive of the new precinct plan and proud to have a position in that plan.
“Our Ballarat campus is also well embedded in the Ballarat community in that sense.”
Federation University proposes to partner in a Berwick business technology park similar to an enterprise at Ballarat which supports 1500 jobs at IBM, the State Revenue Office and other major businesses.
With IBM, the university built a “strong teaching and research collaboration”, Mr Jakob said.
“Our mission is to provide access to education in regional and rural areas.
“Berwick, as a peri-urban area, a fast-growing peri-urban area, is well-fitted to Federation University.”
At Berwick, the university would offer a broad spectrum of subjects, based on the top-20 most popular courses among its students.
The program includes nursing and health sciences, business and education courses, as well as adding environmental and veterinary sciences and IT courses for the first time at the former Monash University campus.
“We will roll out those programs over the next two or three years, with second or third year units opening by 2020.”
Federation University opened its doors at the start of 2017, though is still in the process of acquiring the campus from Monash University.
Under the 15-year precinct plan released by Victorian Planning Authority and Casey Council, up to 11,000 jobs, 13,000 students, 700 hospital beds and 1100 apartments are expected to be created.
Its future is a mix of multi-storey health clinics, education institutions, apartments, offices and small-scale retail.
Part of the plan is to improve access and the profile of Buchanan Park, as well as retain an open-space corridor and build wetlands and a network of cycle paths.
There would be improved access to Berwick station, and plans for an extra intersection on Clyde Road for the precinct’s traffic.
Separate to the plan, the VPA and Casey Council are also proposing to rezone land on Margaret, Evan, Jane and Mansfield streets for “high-quality” residential growth.
Drop-in information sessions on the plan will be held at Chisholm Institute, Berwick, on 18 May at 5pm and 6pm.
Public submissions are open until 29 May. Details: vpa.vic.gov.au/project/berwick-health-education/
