Bond’s $150m plan to house students
BOND University is set to release plans for a massive $150 million expansion so it can accommodate more students who want to live on campus.
The prestigious university expects to lodge a development application later this month for student accommodation, including 1200 rooms, retail precinct, dining area and academic space.
Bond currently has 507 rooms catering for 592 students.
The development is earmarked for land at 4 Lake St, recently acquired by the university, which fronts University Ring Rd.
It is unknown how the development will be funded.
Bond University vicechancellor, Professor Tim Brailsford, said it was an important development.
“Today and into the future, universities are much more than the classroom,” Prof Brailsford said.
“Universities are social beings, with tentacles that reach out to all aspects of the community and this precinct, through clever design, use of modern technology, and integration of formal and informal spaces, will provide such a facility.”
Bond has steadily expanded its footprint since it was established as Australia’s first private, not-for-profit university in 1989 with 322 students.
Student numbers have grown to more than 4000 at the third semester this year, as well as 600 enrolled at Bond University College.
The Bond Medical School opened in 2005, the Soheil Abedian School of Archirecture in 2011 and the 2700 sqm Bond Sports Centre was launched in May last year.
The university’s Robina campus has 89,296 sqm of floor area and there is an additional 9152 sqm at the Bond Institute of Health and Sport.
Robina councillor Hermann Vorster said Bond’s proposal should help to ease tensions between students and other residents in Robina over issues including a shortage of carparks on the street.
“I have seen the concept and while the buildings appear quite large I think there will be a lot of benefits for the area,” he said.
“The important thing for the community is they value the university but they want the student footprint to be contained on campus.”
Mr Vorster said the proposal would also benefit businesses in Varsity Lakes CBD.
“There are six or seven vacant shops there. It is hard because of a lack of carparks but this way there will be hundreds more students walking into the Varsity CBD to support local businesses.”
He hopes Bond has sufficient parking for students.
Lake St allows for buildings up to 17 levels or 53m in height, subject to council approval.