The University of the Sunshine Coast is fortunate to occupy a campus which provides not only a magnificent physical setting, but an environment reflective of our institution's values: open and accessible, amenable to high quality academic endeavour and demonstrative of our commitment to a sustainable future.

The University recognises the campus' natural, physical and social environments require ongoing management to ensure their full potential is realised, and their capacity to accommodate change is maintained.

Much change is likely to occur in the course of the next five years, given the University and the wider Sunshine Coast region are experiencing such rapid population growth.

This revised Campus Master Plan offers the University community comprehensive planning guidance for the next five years and beyond, building on the previous iterations of campus planning which have been regularly undertaken since the inaugural plan was finalised in 1995.

Once again, the planning team has been led by Guida Moseley Brown Architects, who have had a professional involvement with the University since its inception.

Here, they have collaborated with landscape architects, traffic planners and environmental consultants to suggest a number of key recommendations for the University's future growth.

Their work has been guided by many of the observations and suggestions offered during extensive consultation with relevant groups and individuals, both internal and external to the University community, and has drawn on the University's Strategic Plan in order to align the future development of the campus with the University's wider academic agenda.

It is appropriate that the needs of the campus' natural environment have received particular focus in the 2012 Campus Master Plan.

As the campus grows, the natural environment will continue to find appropriate protection, even while an ambitious program for the expansion of academic facilities and infrastructure in undertaken.

This will ensure the campus grounds remain what they have already become: a sanctuary for native flora and fauna, not least for a number kangaroos whose reliance on the campus' natural environment will only increase as development surrounding the University progresses in the next five years and beyond.

The buildings envisaged in the 2012 Campus Master Plan will begin a new phase in the history of the campus, which will see both continued development of its major governing axis and new opportunities for buildings oriented so as to forge closer links with the campus lakes and sporting precinct.

Importantly, development proposals are not limited to large scale buildings, but offer suggestions for a number of smaller projects whose realisation can nevertheless contribute significantly to improving the campus for its staff, students and visitors.

Together, these initiatives will help the campus become a place where more students will want to spend more time enjoying the greater number of facilities, places and activities which are planned to accompany their growing numbers. These changes are to be welcomed.

The important planning guidance offered by this document should not be regarded as the culmination of work for our campus' future, but as a beginning.

It is through the realisation of the Campus Master Plan's proposals that the University will continue to pursue its broader academic endeavours while retaining a physical environment of unique character and enviable quality.

It is a course of action I look forward to implementing.

Greg Hill
Vice-Chancellor and President
University of the Sunshine Coast