CHARLES Sturt University will combine the fun of shared housing with the convenience of on-campus living with its new offering to students.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst Regional Council has approved a $2.9 million development application to refurbish the 10 accommodation huts in John Oxley Village to convert them from traditional dormitory-style units to a share housing layout.
The plans include an upgrade of the cooking and kitchen facilities in each of the huts and the floor plan will be changed from the existing 20-odd rooms to between six and nine bedrooms.
READ MORE:
CSU Residential Life director David Griffin said the changes were a response to feedback from students that they were looking for the best of both worlds when it came to university accommodation.
“The Village was originally built in the early 1970s and has been through various refurbishments but what we’re targeting from this is a more student-centred environment,” Mr Griffin said.
“Students will have the flexibility of preparing and sharing meals together in a more inviting setting and there will be targeted study spaces for individual and group study within the residential setting so students don’t have to go wandering off to others areas of the campus.
“It’s an on-campus share housing option if you want to look at it that way.”
Mr Griffin said the shared housing huts would initially be made available to returning students who would apply as a group for accommodation.
“We’ve been talking extensively with students about what they want and trying to provide new options,” he said.
“This format has already proven very popular and all the available beds have already been fully committed.
“We know it’s not a one-size-fits-all, though, just as members of general society all want to live differently.”
Mr Griffin said work on the refurbishment would start immediately and he was hopeful the huts would be ready for the start of the new university year.
“That’s an ambitious timeline but that’s our target,” he said.
“If the huts are not ready in time for the start of first semester we will work with the affected students to find them appropriate accommodation in the meantime.”
Each shared house hut will featured a shared kitchen and shared unisex bathroom, heating, wi fi and bar fridges in each room.
