THE University of Tasmania says a move away from its ‘‘run down’’ facility at Newnham into a new, inner-city campus would draw more students to Launceston.
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Polling shows that most people across the North are either opposed to or unsure about the move, prompting UTAS to pledge to better explain the move in coming months.
A ReachTEL poll, conducted for The Examiner, found that 47.7 per cent of people in Bass are against the shift, with 23.5 per cent undecided and 28.8 per cent in favour.
UTAS acting vice-chancellor Mike Calford said the proposal was still at a very early stage, but badly needed as part of the institution’s future in the North.
‘‘The current site was never designed to be a university and the buildings are under-utilised,’’ he said.
‘‘Infrastructure is run down and our facilities will require significant investment just to maintain them at the current layout and standard.
‘‘A new campus on an inner-city site would provide state-of-the-art facilities for students, revitalised infrastructure and construction jobs for Launceston, and a long-term improvement in educational attainment in Tasmania.’’
Under a memorandum of understanding with the state government, Launceston City Council and TasTAFE, the university must provide a firm concept plan by the end of August.
‘‘The university recognises that if this project is to succeed, it will require broad community support, and we take very seriously the need to explain what is proposed and the associated benefits,’’ Professor Calford said.
A state government spokesman said a move to Inveresk would revitalise the Launceston CBD.
‘‘If realised, the future university campus at Inveresk will create greater education opportunities and lead an economic revolution for Launceston,’’ he said.
Acting Launceston mayor Rob Soward said it appeared that people were reserving judgment on the project.
‘‘It’s hard to have an informed opinion on it, because there is a lot of detail that will need to be considered and worked out and we are only in the first stages of examining the issues,’’ Alderman Soward said.
The poll found that 44.3 of people in Lyons were undecided, with 29 per cent of respondents in favour and 26.8 per cent opposed.
