University Plans $1.5bn Transit-Oriented Precinct

Flinders University has unveiled a $1.5 billion plan to build Adelaide's largest health and education precinct at its Bedford Park campus.

The university is leveraging investor interest in the new Flinders Station to attract private capital for the development which will include a health research facility, health accommodation, a hotel and retail outlets.

The development could potentially bring 5,000 extra international students to Adelaide, boost annual education exports by $99 million and would create more than 10,000 construction jobs.

The first stage of the project will be a health research building with a focus on mental health, infectious disease and personalised health delivery.

In addition to furthering health services and research, a new urban centre with accommodation and retail amenities will connect Bedford Park and Tonsley campuses as well as adjacent hospitals and surrounding suburbs.

The University also plans to increase the number of student residential spaces to accommodate 3,000 new beds for students looking to live on campus.

The university is known for its focus on integrated health being the first medical school in the nation to be integrated into a public hospital.

“We’re at the core of a health and education precinct that includes the state’s busiest hospital, educates the majority of the state’s medical workforce and contributes a substantial proportion of the State’s biomedical research,” Flinders University vice-chancellor Colin Stirling said.

In addition to its own investments the University will invite public and private partners to develop Flinders Village and its research, education and employment precincts.

“Flinders has a strong focus on sustainability, and designers will be challenged to incorporate world’s best practice thinking into their proposals,” Stirling said.

“We will run an open process to identify development partners and future tenants, and work with our communities to create a vibrant urban environment which meets their needs now and into the future.

The university will work with partners, hospitals and government to integrate the new rail line and other public transport, existing and emerging, into the future development.

The university development will aim be shovel ready by next year coinciding with the Darlington Upgrade Project, upgrading 3.3 kilometres of the existing Main South Road as part of Adelaide's North-South Corridor and the Flinders Link rail construction due for completion in 2020.

Transitional accommodation, hotel facilities and retail will be progressively completed between 2022 and 2030.