Land deal for Manukau city centre tertiary campus

A land deal to allow the creation of a tertiary campus for 25,000 students in Manukau city centre has been approved.

The Manukau City Council decision means that the planned new Manukau rail and bus station will be part of a tertiary campus building with a floor area of approximately 10,000 square metres.

The council has approved a 99 year lease of approximately three hectares of land to Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) for a peppercorn rental. The campus site will be on a section of Hayman Park bordered by Wiri Station Road, Davies Ave and Lambie Drive that has been ear-marked for development for a number of years.

MIT plans to open stage one of the campus in 2012 with an initial 1500 full time equivalent students, with numbers expected to increase during the next decade.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says the creation of the tertiary campus opens up opportunities for the city centre and wider Manukau.

“The station and campus development is the first stage in a long term plan to lift the city centre to a new level.

“There are huge benefits from having a tertiary campus in central Manukau, which is why the council is helping make it happen by providing the land.

“Manukau is one of the fastest growing parts of the country, so this campus is needed to cater for the demand for education and to help increase the educational achievements of our residents.

“The campus and train station development will be a catalyst for further investment in this area. It unlocks the economic potential of the city centre and the educational potential of our young people.

“It also means there will be a much bigger and better station building than the simple station that would have been there without the campus,” Mr Brown says.

“The council has been pushing for many years to get a tertiary campus in the city centre that offers a full range of courses. Soon we'll have two, with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) opening their Manukau campus soon and the planned MIT campus coming in 2012. Having education close to home gives Manukau residents the best opportunities possible for their future.

“Manukau City Council has had a close relationship with MIT over many years and it has always been our intention to have them as the key partner on a city centre tertiary campus. Other tertiary providers are also expected to offer courses from this campus,” Mr Brown says.

MIT Chief Executive Doctor Peter Brothers says: “we are very pleased to have the Manukau City Council’s support for the development of a tertiary campus at Hayman Park.

“This is an exciting time for both MIT and the wider Counties Manukau community. Plans for the development of the site are well underway and we are looking forward to working alongside the council on this project.”

The council’s decision on the land agreement will be subject to confirmation by the Auckland Transition Agency.

The transport interchange and tertiary campus projects are part of a masterplan the council has developed to create a better city centre – one that is easy to get around and attracts people and investment to the area.

The long term aim is to create opportunities for investment, economic development, better public spaces and to make the environment an attractive part of the city centre.

The council owns approximately 21.5 hectares, about 78 per cent, of land in Manukau’s central business district. This means the council holds the key to unlocking its potential by working with development partners on projects to improve the city centre.