A Northern Beaches university is on the cards with Council inviting universities to establish a campus on the Northern Beaches in a Council owned building.

The former Councils made efforts to secure a university but now with one Council for the Northern Beaches there is an opportunity to make this sought-after idea a reality.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said there would be significant economic and social benefits from a university campus based in our area.

“Council will be inviting expressions of interest from the higher education industry to set up a satellite campus on the Northern Beaches.”

Council understands the NSW Department of Planning & Environment is exploring the potential of locating a university campus near the new Northern Beaches Hospital, as part of the Frenchs Forest ‘Planned Precinct’.

“With the new Frenchs Forest Hospital coming on line soon, such a campus could potentially support medical sciences, nursing and medicine, amongst other disciplines.

"However, this may be several years away and in the meantime it may be feasible to create a satellite campus of an existing university for them to establish a presence on the Northern Beaches, using Council’s property asset portfolio.

“That way, there is the potential to secure opportunities with universities across a wide range of academic disciplines and schools.” Mayor Regan said.

The Northern Beaches is already home to the popular International College of Management Studies and this is an opportunity to expand the tertiary education offering and increase opportunities for our local students.

“That way, there is the potential to secure opportunities with universities across a wide range of academic disciplines and schools.” Mayor Regan said.

Council is considering offering universities access to potentially re-purposed Council-owned buildings such as the Seaforth Village Community Centre (within the former Seaforth TAFE site), Dee Why Library and the existing Civic Centre, Council-owned administration offices at Vuko Place in Warriewood, among other buildings within its property portfolio.

“Other locations identified in any expressions of interest could be examined if the opportunity was right and provided a significant community benefit,” said Mayor Regan.