Read our essential guide to campus operations during shutdown

25 Nov 2024

Edition 22 2024

UNSW’s Estate Management has a handy guide to what’s open and closed during the holidays.

The UNSW year-end shutdown begins at 5pm on Monday 23 December 2024, and the University will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025. As in previous years, Estate Management (EM) is implementing streamlined building access and reduced services during this period. 

EM help desk

The EM help desk phone number 9385 5111 will continue to operate 24 hours a day during shutdown. Emails sent to estate@unsw.edu.au will be answered when the University re-opens on Monday 6 January 2025.

Building access

All buildings on campus will operate in secure mode. Swipe access will match your existing access on Sundays. Staff and HDR students must have permission to be on campus, with approval from their Dean or divisional head, or their delegate.

Like last year, some spaces within buildings may be locked down at the request of the faculty or division. Students and staff won’t have access to these areas.

If you have been granted approval to be on campus and you currently don’t have Sunday access, please arrange for your manager or administration team to request access by emailing id.cards@unsw.edu.au before Thursday 19 December 2024. After this date we can’t guarantee access will be added to your card and access can’t be added during shutdown.

The Law Library will remain open with reduced operating hours from 9am to 5pm daily, except on Christmas Day.

Cleaning

All buildings will have a full clean at the end of the year. The last full clean will be the night of Monday 23 December 2024. After this, only areas where staff and students are located and that have notified General Services will receive a basic clean, which can be done by raising an Archibus request by Friday 20 December. This includes servicing kitchen areas, bathrooms and general waste bins. There will be no other cleaning services during the year-end shutdown. The full cleaning service will recommence at the end of the break.

Waste collection

There will be no scheduled waste collection for buildings during the year-end shutdown. Waste collection will occur for all buildings prior to and at the conclusion of the break.

General waste collection from external collection points will continue as usual, excluding public holidays. Paper and cardboard waste won’t be collected during shutdown.

Chemical waste collection isn’t scheduled during the shutdown period unless specifically requested as urgent. The last scheduled chemical waste collection for 2024 is Thursday 19 December. Biological waste will only be collected from the bio-dock waste room during the period, excluding public holidays. Permanent skip bins won’t be serviced unless arranged prior to the break.

Air conditioning

During shutdown, air conditioning will continue for business-critical requirements. Areas that are non-research critical spaces (such as office areas) won’t have air conditioning, unless an exemption has been requested. Buildings with standalone air conditioning systems will operate as normal. All other units will operate on after-hours mode, which will require push-button activation.

Lighting

Lights will be switched off for all buildings. Lighting can be switched on manually if required. Some lighting around campus will remain active for security purposes.

Security

UNSW Security Operations will operate throughout the year-end shutdown. For assistance, visit the Gate 2 Security Office on High Street. Alternatively, call 9385 6000, or in an emergency, dial 9385 6666. You can also use the SafeZone app to raise an alert in emergencies.

Critical Incident Team

The Critical Incident Team (CIT) will continue to operate throughout the period. For any emergencies or incidents, please contact the Security Control Room on 9385 6666.

UNSW shuttle bus

The last regular UNSW shuttle bus service between Kensington and Paddington campuses for 2024 will depart from Paddington at 9.30pm on 6 December. Regular service will resume on 28 January 2025. During this period, UNSW Security will continue to provide the on-demand safety escort service, with limited capacity.

Mail Centre

The Mail Centre will be closed during the UNSW year-end break. It will close at 4.30pm Monday 23 January 2024 and reopen 8.30am Monday 6 January 2025. Friday 20 December 2024 is the last collection for outgoing mail and courier bookings. Incoming mail will be suspended during these dates.

Relocations

Relocations are available if arranged with General Services, with an Archibus request submitted no later than Monday 16 December 2024. Requests submitted after Monday 16 December 2024 won’t be actioned during shutdown. Furniture re-use is not available during the break. Requests will be actioned again from Monday 6 January 2025.