Staff at Orange’s Charles Sturt University campus have a view of Mount Canobolas for the first time as site preparation for major upgrades continues.
Bulldozers have been at work at the campus for the past two weeks clearing the way for a new dental school and science facilities.
Head of Campus Kevin Parton says the project is on track and he expects the school will be ready to take students next year.
As well as addressing a shortage of dentists and other health care professionals in the country, the dentistry unit will have benefits for the entire Orange community, not just students, Professor Parton said.
“It’s a massive injection of health care, and in particular dental care, into the Orange community,
“There will be 24 dental chairs which will be open to the public.”
Upon completion the dental and medical science extensions to the university will all but double in size with numbers of dentistry and science students expected to equal numbers of agriculture and pharmacy students already studying at Orange Campus.
A new lecture theatre, library extensions as well as the new school will also double the building area of the campus. “It is on target we’re just plugging along at this stage and next year remains an achievable target,” Prof Parton said.
The first intake of dentistry students is planned for February 2009.