QMEDIA RELEASE

13 November 2002

Campus boosts Tamaki economy

Auckland’s suburbs of Glen Innes and Panmure will experience “considerable economic benefit” from the University of Auckland’s Tamaki Campus expansion.

Councillor Bill Christian, chairman of Auckland City’s Works Committee, says the expansion will bring jobs to the Tamaki area. The region is already seeing the benefits of the expansion programme with the construction of the Research Centre of Engineering and Science, he says. The research centre will be completed by the end of 2002.

“By the end of the planned expansion programme we will see numerous new buildings constructed with a total floor area of over 95,000 square metres. This represents an investment of tens of millions of dollars by the University of Auckland.

“The Population and Health Sciences building alone (11,000 square metres) will be constructed at an approximate cost of $30 million. This gives the construction industry a major boost.”

The expansion programme provides the local community with purpose designed and built facilities “ which commits the University to this location.”

Councillor Christian says the increase of students - estimated to reach 3000 students by 2004 – will bring extra dollars into the Glen Innes and Panmure economies.

These figures do not include the estimated professional staff numbers that are due to grow by 350 by 2004. The campus will house staff from both public and private sector organisations that will co-locate at the university to work on co-operative programmes.

The campus will operate as a research-led university attracting post-graduate students. The research and faculty programmes will be based around the themes of information technology, food and biotechnology, environment, energy and resources, materials and manufacturing and health, sports and psychology.

“There is real potential for information technology industries that design computer software to be attracted to the areas adjacent to the campus. If this happens over time it could mean a real boost to the job market.

“It is also fortunate that there have been delays in moving ahead on transport initiatives in the Tamaki area. The new railway facilities planned on the eastern alignment could coincide with any new developments on land adjacent to the campus.

“The rail initiatives will result in less road traffic to the area than would normally have been envisaged whilst supporting the operation of the public transport system.”

Councillor Christian says Auckland City and the University of Auckland are keen to see the campus “offer the local community continuing study and life-long learning opportunities” and are exploring ways to do this through the newly established Tamaki Campus-Local Community Forum.

“The University is using overseas models as a guide in relation to how to integrate with the local community. This approach has been very successful at the University of Southern California and has brought many benefits to the Los Angeles community close by.”

ENDS

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