University's grand plan

Concept plans released to The Examiner show two new multistorey buildings at Inveresk and Willis Street, to be linked by a footbridge across the North Esk River.

There would be underground parking at the proposed Inveresk building that would be designed to house the business, education, law, IT, arts and design and architecture programs.

The Willis Street building would become the new academic precinct for science, technology and health, and also include the university’s research arm.

Car parking at both sites would be available to the public at weekends and school holidays.

The state government has committed a share of $60 million to the project, however it will require further investment from all levels of government.

An estimated 500 jobs are expected to be created during the construction, and the entire proposal aims to attract 10,000 extra Tasmanian students.

The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania would remain at their existing sites.

The project has support from the state government, the Launceston City Council, TasTAFE and business, industry and community stakeholders.

A public meeting will be held on October 1.

A FOOTBRIDGE across the North Esk linking the University of Tasmania's $200 million Inveresk and Willis Street inner-Launceston campus is being proposed.

Graphic designs released to The Examiner show that Inveresk and the 11,500-square-metre Willis Street car park are the preferred sites for new multistorey-campus buildings to potentially be built in several stages, depending on funding.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said it would be "one of the single biggest investments in Launceston's history".

A new 37,000-square-metre (floor space) building at Inveresk, to contain the main teaching and academic quarters for various disciplines, a library and an English Language Centre would be four storeys high - or to a similar height as Aurora Stadium.

The building would reflect the site's industrial heritage and curved profile of the adjacent stadium, and include public spaces and underground car parking, which would be open for public use at weekends and school holidays.

Retail would be included at the council's discretion along the Invermay Road frontage, while the existing Architecture and Arts buildings would be reviewed for upgrades.

The Willis Street building - 36,000 square metres in floor space - would house the university's research and technology arms, and be linked to Inveresk with a pedestrian and bike bridge.

The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and National Automobile Museum of Tasmania would remain at their existing sites.

At the existing Newnham site, a new student hub would be developed at the Australian Maritime College, where a new forecourt entrance is a possibility.

The university would work with the council to redevelop the remainder as part of the Northern Suburbs Revitalisation strategy with a working party to be established.

It has been mooted that the site could be used for aged care, housing and sporting-recreation facilities.

The campus shift is expected to create 500 jobs during the construction phase and earlier this month vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen said he hoped construction would start within 12 months and be completed within five years.

Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said now that concept plans had been released, the public would be able to realise the significance of the project and encouraged people to discuss and review the specifics.

"This is potentially a game changer for our city, with major economic and social benefits for the city and region," he said.

"If the proposal is successful, it will mean a massive increase in student numbers, an expansion of the courses currently on offer, and a huge economic injection for Launceston."

No development applications or engineers designs have been submitted to the council and building specifics are expected to be released in detail on Friday.

February 2012: The Launceston City Council amends its planning scheme to allow student accommodation to be built at Inveresk. The 120 units worth $15.65 million expected to be completed by 2016.

August 2013: University unveils plans to build $83.5 million health and sports centre of excellence. Professor Peter Rathjen admits that small and regional university campuses in Australia are threatened and claims that this new project will ensure the future of the Newnham and Inveresk campuses.

Late 2013: University and TasTAFE sign a memorandum to investigate cooperative arrangements, including shared facilities in Launceston’s CBD.

May 2014: The federal government announces its plans to allow universities to set their own fees and cut funding. Professor Rathjen says the university could lose under deregulation, and the closure of subsidised regional campuses in Launceston and Burnie is a possibility.

2014: The Tamar Health project is relaunched by Provost Mike Calford, which is a revamp of the 2013 Northern Health Initiative Plan for a $83.5 million health and sports centre hub.

December 2014: A leaked plan shows a $453 million redevelopment of UTAS that includes $190 million expansion at Inveresk.

May 2015: The university’s desire to relocate its Newnham campus to Inveresk is officially announced and a memorandum of understanding was signed between the university, TasTAFE, Launceston City Council and state government. The government pledged a share of $60 million for the university’s $200 million relocation plan in its 2015-16 budget.

August 2015: MOU parties meet to review concept plans for the project. September 2015: The university reveals plans for public consultation. 

NEW university courses in the allied health, aged care, smart manufacturing and agricultural disciplines will expand the educational opportunities offered by the proposed Northern university campus.

Consultation plans revealed by the University of Tasmania state that no degrees or courses now offered at the Northern campus will be cut, while any new courses that are planned to begin in 2017 will meet the workforce needs of the state.

A new building adjacent to Aurora Stadium will contain teaching space for business, education, law, IT, arts, design and architecture degrees.

The School of Architecture and Design, and the Tasmanian College of Arts buildings are set to receive makeovers, with the arts building suggested to become the new home of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory Australia (HitLab). The university stated that research at the new campus will remain a priority.

A second new building on Willis Street is earmarked to become the New science, technology and health precinct that will house research-appropriate facilities.

It will also accommodate health, nursing and parahealth, science, technology and engineering and aquaculture courses.

The 4450 students studying at Newnham will be relocated to Inveresk to join up to 900 students who already study at the site, while the 1200 Australian Maritime College students will remain at Newnham.

The overall aim of the expanded new campus at Inveresk is to attract 10,000 new Tasmanian students into tertiary education, with TasTAFE to play a role in the pathway and education experience of some of these students.

University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen said the university hoped to expand education in the North by offering shorter, cheaper, job-oriented programs.

"Those new programs are essential for the future of Tasmania for the level of education Tasmania needs, and for the university to position itself as it needs to do to support the Tasmanian people," Professor Rathjen said.

TasTAFE acting chief executive Gail Eaton-Briggs said the development proposal and partnership with TAFE would increase education and training opportunities in the Northern region.

"This development proposal provides the opportunity to explore options for co-location of some programs, better pathways between TasTAFE and the university, and increased cooperation in course delivery," she said.