Building the Territory's Education Infrastructure

ADAM GILES - CHIEF MINISTER

The Giles Government has welcomed the start of work on GPT’s new $35 million, 303-bed student accommodation complex at Casuarina Square.

“This is a fantastic investment in the Territory’s education infrastructure that will help attract more students and ease rental pressures in Darwin’s northern suburbs,” Chief Minister Adam Giles said.

“The eight-storey student housing complex is perfectly located with Charles Darwin University just down the road, a bus terminal next door and a shopping centre literally on its front doorstep.”

The student accommodation is the first in a series of plans to evolve the Casuarina Shopping Centre into a true town centre.

“GPT and the Territory Government are planning for the needs of a growing city and the start of this expansion will be welcome news to residents of Darwin and Palmerston,” Mr Giles said.

“Last year I travelled to Sydney and met with GPT to advocate for this expansion, especially the student accommodation, and it’s pleasing to see work on the project getting underway.”

The complex will be finished in time for the 2015 student intake at Charles Darwin University and will be managed by Uni Lodge which is the market leader in student accommodation in Australia and New Zealand.

“I have been spruiking the education opportunities available in the Territory during my recent trade missions to Asia.

“This is part of the Giles Government’s plan to diversify our economy, build international education as an industry and create jobs for our kids. Our negotiations with GPT support this approach and that is why today's announcement is so important.

“I want to position the Territory as an international education hub and this is exactly the kind of accommodation we need to attract more students to Northern Australia.

“The Territory is a great place to live and study and I’m confident this new accommodation will help put CDU at the top of many students’ application lists.”

Territory company, Sitzler Pty Ltd, has won the construction contract for the student accommodation.

They are one of the largest privately owned and operated construction companies in Northern Australia and they will be on site within a fortnight.

Source: ProjectLink.com.au

View All »