At Wednesday’s night’s ordinary Leeton Shire Council meeting, it was agreed in principle to support the establishment of a Country Universities Centre (CUC) in Leeton. 

The decision comes after last month the state government backed the expansion of the successful CUC initiative with an $8 million investment. 

This funding will allow more regional and rural university students to study close to home. 

The idea to put the town forward as one of the places such a facility could be set up came after council’s general manager Jackie Kruger approached CUC chief executive officer Duncan Taylor to consider Leeton as a potential location.

Mr Taylor has proposed Griffith and Leeton work as a single centre based across two sites.

The idea is if a bigger town, such as Griffith, was on board, there would be more likelihood of the concept being given the green light. 

Mayor Paul Maytom said one of the biggest challenges faced by regional and remote students, particularly those studying by distance, is the absence of a “campus” environment and its associated support and benefits for tertiary students.

“The CUC is a community-driven, not-for-profit enterprise, established with the aim of making tertiary education more accessible for regional and remote communities in NSW,” he said. 

“Each CUC is based on a model which delivers supported learning to these students, providing them with access to campus-level technology and facilities with extended opening hours, tutors and a network of fellow students to create a ‘campus like’ environment within their own local community.”

Council has identified an existing space within the town’s library and adjacent outdoor courtyard area as a potential space for a CUC branch in Leeton.

In the mean time, work will continue with Griffith City Council, the CUC Western Riverina Steering Group and CUC to prepare a business plan and commence applying for federal government funding.