Albanese Government Backs Darwin Student Accommodation

The Albanese Government is helping provide more student accommodation in Darwin to support continued growth for Charles Darwin University (CDU) and to ease local housing pressures.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) will provide a loan for around $70 million to build more than 400 new purpose-built student accommodation beds in Darwin.

The loan to Campus Living Villages Pty Ltd (CLV) will help fund construction and refurbishment of dedicated student accommodation, providing affordable, secure accommodation for CDU students.

“This project will help take the pressure off students at a challenging time for many as they meet the cost of rent and the demands of study,” Minister King said.

“This project will help students, support the growth of Charles Darwin University, and take some of the demand out of Darwin’s tight rental market.

“NAIF support is an investment in the future for CDU and for Darwin.”

Assistant Minister for Northern Australia Senator Nita Green said the project would also strengthen the Northern Territory economy.

“This project is forecast to deliver more than $200 million in Gross Regional Product for the Northern Territory over the next 20 years,” Senator Green said.

“At the same time, the construction and refurbishments of the CDU accommodation projects will support 302 local jobs, and 44 ongoing jobs – that’s what delivery looks like.”

Special Envoy for Northern Australia Luke Gosling said the NAIF commitment would fund a new student accommodation tower with 352 beds adjacent to CDU’s Danala Campus in Darwin, and expansion and refurbishment of CDU’s Casuarina campus accommodation, delivering an extra 50 beds.

“Darwin’s private rental market has one of the lowest vacancy rates in Australia, and these extra beds will alleviate some of those rental pressures,” Mr Gosling said.

“The Albanese Government continues to support northern Australia, and increased NAIF funding by $2 billion to $7 billion to invest in projects that strengthen communities and the economy across the north.”

Charles Darwin University Acting Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Fiona Coulson said the funding strengthens the University’s capacity to attract students,  supports local employment and contributes to the long-term economic growth in the Northern Territory.

“As student numbers grow at our Danala campus, there is greater demand for student accommodation here in the CBD,” Professor Coulson said.

“Funding from the NAIF makes the development of purpose-built student accommodation possible – providing our students not only a place to live, but a place to thrive.”

Legislation to extend NAIF operations for a further 10 years has passed the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate.