Macquarie University Master plan

Macquarie University has developed a Master Plan to facilitate and guide the future development of the Campus, based on the vision for the future of the university.

Campus Master Plan

The Macquarie University Master Plan was developed and refined, driven by the forward vision of the university and the planned growth of the campus.

Changes in teaching methodologies, new course opportunities at Macquarie, increased industry engagement and the potential of commercial opportunities on the campus are also key considerations in the master plan.

The Master Plan sets out an updated physical framework to accommodate the University's predicted needs, while ensuring flexibility into the future and enhancing the existing qualities of the University's campus. It acknowledges that change will be continuous and new directions will evolve as the University grows, and identifies a strong but flexible framework for growth. It also identifies a series of initiatives aimed at improving the amenity of the campus, while identifying over time how sites can be developed to their full potential and how future growth can be accommodated.

The Master Plan is intended to provide a general framework to guide and assist the University in its decision making in respect to future development of the campus and is structured to identify the key elements that underpin the plan and new initiatives.

Macquarie University Master Plan 2014

Concept Plan 2009

In 2009 a Concept Plan was developed as the first step in the process.

Macquarie University Concept Plan 2009

This plan leads to the development of and subsequent approval of the campus development plan by the NSW Department of Planning and the gazetting of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development) Amendment (Macquarie University) 2009.

The 2009 Concept Plan and the subsequent SEPP, will continue to provide the formal statutory planning approval and tool for the University to guide the future development of the site.

Design Excellence Strategy - Urban Design Guidelines

The Urban Design Guidelines is a 2 volume set of documents that was prepared in August 2015 and updated in August 2018. These documents are required by, and form part of the Concept Plan approval process.

Given the existing planning regime applying to the University, the University campus has been excluded from Part 4.5 of the Ryde Development Control Plan 2014.

These Urban Design Guidelines now provide the ‘controls’ and detailed design measures against which future development on the campus will be assessed, and are to be considered instead of Council’s DCP controls.

Design Excellence Strategy - Urban Design Guidelines - Volume 1

Design Excellence Strategy - Urban Design Guidelines - Supporting Documents

Zones

The University is adopting a new building identification system and a new way finding concept that is based on the following zones across the campus:

The Central zone
North Zone
South Zone
East Zone
West quadrants

Additionally every building has a street address and name rather than block references.

The system is a geographic not a function organising of address and identity with a series of different uses occur across the different zones.

Central Zone

The Central zone is focused around the original Central Courtyard and the new Library and contains a number of shared and ceremonial functions.

The Master Plan requires the following for the Central zone:

Reinforce shared uses and maintain activity in the campus centre
Focus community uses (including food and beverage) in the heart of the campus
Develop a new central open space: the University Common and Library Forecourt
Reinforce entries on the diagonal axes into the Academic Core
Ensure that the campus centre has strong ceremonial role

Central Zone Spaces

Academic	Student spaces	Central Hub
	Retail

East Zone

The East zone lies in a quadrant from the new University Avenue/Herring Road gateway to the Talavera Road axis. It includes the Hospital, MURP and much of the Science and Business and Economics faculties.

The East zone has a number of opportunities:

Reinforce the Waterloo Road entry as the main entry to the University
Develop the precinct as a mixed use precinct with educational and commercial uses
Accommodate some 200,000m2 of development along Herring Road under the Urban Activation Precinct controls
Focus commercial uses along the Herring and Talavera Road frontages
Develop opportunities that optimise relationships with the Macquarie Centre and create a community heart (town centre) for Macquarie Park with potential for a civic plaza
Ensure future growth of the Hospital and associated University uses are accommodated
Improve access opportunities to commercial uses from public roads
Extend pedestrian access from Wally's Walk to University Creek
Coordinate improved access across Herring Road into the Macquarie Centre
Structure building heights at the University Avenue entry to reinforce the pedestrian entry
Experience and emphasise the University's presence
Accommodate student housing options

Eastern Zone Spaces

Commercial	Accommodation	Pedestrian Entry/public Gateway
Research

South Zone

The South zone extends from the Balaclava Road axis to the University Avenue gateway. It includes the large area south of Macquarie Walk.

The Master Plan seeks to:

Continue development of southern precinct as a predominantly commercial zone but mixed with educational uses
Encourage the integration of learning spaces within this zone
Develop an active edge with building entries, lobbies and cafes along the Macquarie Walk frontage
Maintain access opportunities to commercial uses from publicly accessible roads

Southern Zone Spaces

Commercial	Retail	Entry/public Gateway

West Zone

The West zone lies between the Gymnasium Road and Balaclava Road axes. The plan envisages the focus to shift towards the Mars Creek/ Culloden Road zone where a better relationship to the heart of the campus can be developed.

New housing is possible in the west of the site close to MUSAC with the possibility of densities being increased on the Macquarie University Village site.

The Master Plan seeks to:

Introduce new research and commercial uses adjacent to Mars Creek
Clearly define the edge of the public domain along the creek frontage
Stage construction of new car parking on the Culloden Road frontage
Locate parking access predominantly from Culloden Road.
Accommodate student housing options
Upgrade and expand accommodation on the existing housing site
Explore new student housing opportunities including intensifying uses on the University Village site

Western Zone Spaces

Commercial	Accommodation	Vehicle/Car parking
Research

North Zone

The North precinct extends from the Central Courtyard, across the Mars Creek includes the sports fields. The eastern edge will be defined by the Talavera axis while Gymnasium Road marks the western extent. The precinct will continue to fulfil an important sports and recreation function.

Key uses within the precinct are:

Development adjacent to Mars Creek is constrained by significant plant communities however a looser development structure will allow new buildings such as a possible Great Hall to be woven into the landscape
The zone towards Talavera Road and the existing MGSM will see an intensification of uses with academic and research uses favored. Sites along the Creek will need to be developed to lower scale, developing a strong relationship to the open space

Within the North zone, the Master Plan seeks to:

Introduce new uses north of Mars Creek
Intensify uses near the Talavera Road axis
Ensure sports facilities match student growth and demand from new employment on the campus
Reinforce student housing in west of campus
Allow for new student housing and the relocation and expansion of existing colleges
Investigate new services and facilities for the expanded resident student population

Northern Zone Spaces

Student Spaces	Accommodation	Entry /Public Gateway
Recreation

Reference: Macquarie University Campus Master Plan 2014