The Liberal National Government has today secured a project development agreement with Curtin University which will bring tertiary education to the eastern suburbs for the first time.
Premier Colin Barnett said the agreement marked a significant milestone in the planning for a new university - that will house Western Australia's newest medical campus, along with nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, engineering and business students - at the Midland Workshops.
Under the agreement, $22 million and land reserved near the new St John of God Midland Public Hospital for the university would be provided by the Liberal National Government.
The Premier welcomed Curtin's commitment and said a university presence in Midland was in high demand and long overdue for Perth's growing eastern metropolitan region to ensure quality education and employment opportunities were available close to home.
"Curtin's Midland Campus will cement Midland's status as a knowledge and health precinct, helping to attract new investment, and provide much needed tertiary options for the east metropolitan region," Mr Barnett said.
"A deliberate strategy to invest in education and health facilities in Midland is creating unprecedented employment, education and health-care opportunities for local residents."
Planning Minister Donna Faragher said the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority's new master plan for Midland aimed to reposition the Workshops precinct as a medical and education hub, and recreate the employment, economic and community spirit of the area's historic past.
"Together with the St John of God Midland Public Hospital, GP Super Clinic, PlusLife bone and tissue bank, a new cancer treatment centre and a future private hospital, Curtin will bring some of the State's leading medical experts to Midland to support the health and education needs of the local community and wider region," Mrs Faragher said.
The Premier thanked the Australian Government for its commitment to funding Commonwealth supported places for the medical campus, which would train 110 new doctors when it reaches full capacity in 2022.
Fact File
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Planning Minister's office - 6552 5300
