Saner counsel campus call

LILYDALE’S former Swinburne campus will be retained as an educational and community facility, if volunteer group Outer East Tertiary Education Strategy/ Lilydale Campus Advisory Committee has anything to do with it.
Committee chair, Professor Barb van Ernst said there was a strong and shared view in the community that all sustainable tertiary education opportunities were explored.
“There are clearly two key pillars in a sustainable model for tertiary education in the region,” she said.
“The first is that land be fairly transferred for the benefit of the community. We are especially interested in the arrangements being discussed between the Yarra Ranges Council, Swinburne University and the State Government relating to terms and conditions for community access to the campus.
“We note that the land was originally gifted by the State Government to Swinburne for educational purposes in the region, and it is our hope that good sense will prevail in these discussions. We are confident of a sensible outcome.”
Prof van Ernst said the second pillar involved developing a shared use model.
“Our task is to harness the demand for tertiary education and work with education providers, employers, local government, community organisations, creative arts and health organisations to ensure that we are able to develop a sustainable model,” she said.
“We know that our strategy needs to be innovative and attractive to tertiary education providers. Education delivery is increasingly becoming more flexible and we are seeking partners who can help us to deliver this.
To follow progress on the site go to http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Council/Advocacy/Former_Swinburne_Lilydale_Campus_Regional_Tertiary_Education_Strategy