Momentous occasion in CIT history as CIT Woden campus gets green light

Major improvements are on the way for the Woden Town Centre, with formal approval of the CIT Campus - Woden Business Case marking a significant milestone and a step-forward for the project.

Minister for Tertiary Education Chris Steel said, "This is a $250m-$300 million investment in jobs and Woden's regeneration. This project is about building jobs in Woden today to support thousands of students into the jobs of the future."

The ACT Government is set to deliver a flagship CIT facility, passenger-friendly public transport interchange and multi-bed Youth Foyer which will see Woden transformed over the next four years into a modern, vibrant and well-connected town centre.

The project will be part of the ACT's Jobs and Recovery Plan. "This new purpose-built CIT Campus will play an important role in supporting the Territory's economic recovery from the ongoing impacts of COVID-19," Minister Steel said.

Construction of this project will create more jobs for Canberrans at a time where the city needs them most. After construction, more jobs will become available for teachers and other staff within the campus.
The ACT Government is focused on building jobs now to create the careers of tomorrow, with smart classrooms, simulated learning environments, commercial kitchens and hands-on training spaces to help prepare students in fields such as IT, cyber security, hospitality and design.

"Around 520 jobs are expected to be created during construction alone, in addition to the teaching and learning jobs that will be offered once the facility becomes operational in 2025," Minister Steel said.

The ACT is the knowledge capital of the nation, and by investing in a purpose-built teaching and learning facility for CIT we can continue to support all Canberrans to reach their full potential.

CIT Woden will not only support 6500 students annually in becoming highly capable and sought-after graduates that are work-ready in their given field, it will also help stimulate the larger economy by supporting local business, industry and employment.

A new interchange will be built on Callam Street, delivering on the Woden Masterplan objectives and providing a safe, welcoming and connected environment with more bus stops and bus layovers supporting future increases in services. A new Light Rail station platform will be built as part of the project.

An on-campus multi-bed Youth Foyer will also be delivered as part of the project, providing integrated learning, accommodation and support for young people who are committed to education and training but are at risk of homelessness.

Construction of the public transport interchange will start mid-2021, with construction of CIT Woden to commence in 2022. It is anticipated that students will be able to start studying at the new campus at the beginning of 2025.