Site for proposed Geraldton University finalised

4/04/03
The State Government has agreed to provide a site for Geraldton's future university campus.
Agreement was made possible through close co-operation between Health Minister Bob Kucera, Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter and Mid-West Minister Kim Chance.
Mr Kucera agreed to relinquish a portion of Western Australian Health Department land and Mr Carpenter subsequently agreed to lease land to the Geraldton Universities Centre for a nominal rent.
The process was facilitated by Mr Chance, the Mid-West Development Commission and a local steering committee.
The Commonwealth Government has allocated $2.5million for the university's capital works, but the funds cannot be used to acquire land.
The State Government has promised $592,000 over four years towards the facility's operating and capital costs.
The chosen site is located in vacant bushland adjacent to the TAFE College, off Port Way and near the new Geraldton Regional Hospital site.

Mr Carpenter said the agreement was a major step towards the ultimate goal of creating an education and training precinct in the city.
"While 21 out of every 100 metropolitan school leavers enrol in university, the figure is closer to eight in the Geraldton region," the Minister said.
"This decision on the future site will help the centre address this inequity and move closer to its goal of having 200 students enrolled by 2006."
In 2001 a commission-led delegation successfully bid for 20 Federally-funded university places.
At the time, Geraldton set a national precedent as the only regional city to be allocated tertiary places. The normal method is to allocate places to a parent university rather than a city.
The Geraldton Universities Centre was established to administer the places and courses. It was formed through a coalition of three Perth-based universities - UWA, Curtin and Edith Cowan - which enabled a wide range of courses to be provided.
Mr Chance said he was thrilled with the choice of site.
"Nursing and family health services courses are provided for at the new regional hospital and having the university campus on an adjoining site will complement that facility," Mr Chance said.
"The next challenge for the Geraldton community is to work toward having some facilities ready for the start of the next academic year."
Minister's office: 9213 6700