THE public got an opportunity on Thursday night to grill the University of Tasmania about its plans to possibly relocate the Newnham campus and spend $220 million redeveloping Inveresk.

More than 200 people turned up at the Albert Hall armed with questions, which were answered by a panel including acting vice-chancellor Mike Calford, deputy mayor Rob Soward and Treasurer Peter Gutwein.

Students, university lecturers, ratepayers, political representatives from surrounding councils, former council aldermen, the tram society and others wanted answers.

Many showed antagonism towards the project while others wanted to express positive thoughts about the move. Questions were on a range of issues and included:

● Concern about the future of the Northern suburbs and what would happen at the Newnham campus, including the childcare facility at that campus.

● Concern about the building being built on a flood plain.

● A desire for evidence and guarantees about if and how the university would attract its extra 10,000 students.

● How the proposal would benefit tourism.

● The future of the university art school and further opportunity to develop the arts.

● The inclusion of student consultation and their thoughts and desires about the project.

● Inquiry about traffic and eastern by-pass.

One of the main messages to come out in the answers was that the future of the Northern campus depended on the university's ability to attract new students.

Professor Calford said it would cost $350 million to bring Newnham up to standard, with the campus having minimal ability to attract new students.

He said enrolments had been dropping 5 per cent every year at Newnham, with enrolments of international students sitting at 5 per cent compared with 26 per cent at Inveresk, and substantial enrolment growth at new inner city Hobart campuses.

In terms of attracting 10,000 students Professor Calford said the university was confident from modelling there was demand to attract 5000 students in the first five years, and was confident the uncapping of associate degrees would occur federally.