HISTORIC HANDOVER OF TWEED-GOLD COAST CAMPUS KEYS

A ceremony to mark the official handover of the keys to Southern Cross University's new $7.0 million Tweed-Gold Coast campus will be held this Thursday, 8 November at 11.00 am. The ceremony, to be attended by Hon.

Larry Anthony, Minister for Community Services, and the Mayor of Tweed Shire Council, Cr. Warren Polglase, will be presided over by SCU's Chancellor, Dr. Lionel Phelps.

The three-storey campus, located adjacent to the Tweed Heads Civic Centre and Library in Brett Street, was designed by architects Fulton Trotter & Partners and built by Brisbane-based Covecorp Constructions using a range of local sub-contractors.

The project incorporates the latest educational delivery technology, including high-level Internet connectivity, interactive videoconferencing and desktop video technology linking with the University's regional campuses. It will be operating at the start of the 2002 academic year and specialise initially in Business Education, as well as supporting executive development programs, SCU short courses and corporate training needs.

"The Federal Government has played a very significant role in ensuring that this much-needed educational hub becomes a reality," Dr. Phelps explained. He said that some $4.0 million of the funding had been provided through the Federal Government's Capital Development Pool (CDP) which assists universities across Australia to develop projects such as new campuses and infrastructure.

"The fact that we have received some 10% of the total CDP fund indicates the importance of this fast-growing area," the Chancellor said, paying tribute to the support received from Tweed Shire Council, which made the site available and approved its development, as well as the NSW Government.

"Southern Cross has had a presence in this area for many years in leased premises and we are very appreciative that Federal and local government and the community have all assisted SCU with the establishment of this substantive campus," Dr. Phelps added. "The Member for Richmond, Larry Anthony, was instrumental in obtaining this funding and we would like to personally thank him for his hard work and commitment to the project."

The Chancellor thanked the former Mayor, Max Boyd, who had lobbied for many years to ensure that a University campus was established in the Shire, the staff of Tweed Shire Council, John Griffin and Don Buckley, the staff of Tweed Heads Bowls Club for their tolerance during the construction phase, and Mark Trotter and Covecorp for designing and constructing an attractive building that complements its surroundings.

The Campus Manager, Dr. Bryan Rothwell, said the ideally located campus would provide a much-enhanced access to residents of the Tweed and the Queensland border zone as well as further boosting SCU's electronic delivery of distance programs.

"A higher education presence in the region will enhance the facilities of the community and its opportunity to engage in the significant extracurricular events surrounding university life, as well as engage the academic business environment in this rapidly growing area," he said.