OPPONENTS of a land deal that will tie the University of Tasmania to a new Inveresk campus claim ratepayers will be left millions of dollars out of pocket.
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Community groups and concerned residents voiced their dismay at a public meeting on Tuesday night with Launceston council's move to pass over land to UTas without extensive consultation with the ratepayers.
Mayor Albert van Zetten and aldermen were invited to the meeting, but only Robin McKendrick and Ted Sands attended to listen to residents' concerns.
Launceston Concerned Citizens group, which called the meeting at the Tramsheds Function Centre, says the council should not ignore the ratepayerss.
"We have not been been told the truth - the truth has been concealed," spokesman Basil Fitch said.
The former alderman told more than 100 ratepayers they would get nothing from the exchange, claiming $500,000 that council accepted from UTas under the deal was dropped into a flood levy.
Professor Michael Powell, who has been critical of his former employer, said he felt betrayed by the university speaking out. He said ratepayers got nothing in a deal that "lacked strategy".
