On Tuesday 15 November, The Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce (SGCCC) and the Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce (CTCC) hosted a breakfast at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which was addressed by Professor Peter Lee, Vice Chancellor of Southern Cross University (SCU). Connecting Southern Gold Coast (CSGC) sponsored the event by virtue of its Memorandum of Understanding with SCU.
Professor Lee’s topic was “New Ways of Thinking for the Southern Gold Coast”, reflecting SCU’s new campus at the Gold Coast Airport, Bilinga on the Southern Gold Coast (SGC).
Professor Lee highlighted SCU’s existing building at Bilinga, which was to be supplemented by another two buildings over the next five years, meaning a total capital expenditure on the SGC of in the vicinity of $100 million. In addition to serving the needs of local students at the SGC and Tweed, he also underlined SCU’s intentions of attracting more overseas students to the SGC community and the opportunities and challenges that it offered the SGC in terms of student accommodation, transport and connectivity with local businesses.
Professor Lee expressed the view that SCU would like to see Light Rail connection to the airport as soon as possible.
He also proffered the view that more work needed to be done on whether heavy rail should have a connection into New South Wales, for it to be financially successful.
Gail O’Neil President of SGCCC said, “To have an expanding University in our midst offers businesses in SGC impressive future opportunities and we should all continue to look for ways of working with the University.”
Darren Mackintosh, President of CTCC expressed the view that, “Beneficiaries of the presence of SCU would extend as far north as Burleigh Heads and that these regions, too, need to look for ways of working with SCU.”
Jim Wilson, General Manager of CSGC said, ”CSGC is proud to sponsor the combined initiative of the Chambers, as it shows what power there is in regional cooperation between business groups. The fact that nearly 100 business people attended the breakfast is testament to that.” Mr Wilson then went on the give a summary of the types of projects that CSGC was working on with SCU, from the SGC Music Hub, to Creative Industries Strategy, to Light Rail submissions, to Events and Festivals for the SGC.
Professor Lee was asked many questions by interested attendees, reflecting the fact great interest in the future of the SGC based on its now hosting a prestigious University with a clear Vision to make an enduring contribution to the SGC.