JCU Townsville Master Plan unveiled

The Townsville Campus Master Plan reveals that in the near future, the University will add a Technology Innovation Complex, a Central Plaza, residential accommodation, and an Ideas Market to the campus. The University will continue to develop Mount Stuart Street with a mix of academic and student accommodation, and commercial, retail, and public functions.

The landscape will feature outdoor ‘learning oases’, tropical courtyards and an arboretum. The wider community will be able to make greater use of the campus through hosted activities and attractions.

It’s envisioned that by 2035 new childcare facilities, an aged care home, and a hotel will be built on the campus. On-campus jobs are expected to increase from 3,483 to 5,000.

Over the next 20 years JCU’s ambition is to see a future investment in the estate of $1.9 billion.

JCU’s Director - Estate, Hilary Kavanagh, said the planning process prioritised ‘on campus’ student life experiences that can’t be had online.

He said that in the past year, James Cook University had completed projects in the northern Queensland region worth more than $171 million.

“These include the $85 million state-of-the-art Science Place in Townsville, as well as $25 million spent on the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine building in Cairns, and the $40 million Cairns student accommodation project,” said Mr Kavanagh.

The figures add to the more than $340 million in capital works the university has completed in the previous eight years.

Mr Kavanagh said the next project to be started would be the Central Plaza and Technology Innovation Complex in Townsville.

Link to Master Plan and video ‘fly through’, and a plan of the campus in 2065 here.