The City of Launceston formally agreed to the transfer of title for the council owned land at Inveresk and Willis Street to the University of Tasmania at its meeting on Monday.
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The land, consisting of about 11,500 square meters at the Old Velodrome and 9,470 square metres at the Willis Street car park, will be used by UTAS for its inner-city Northern campus transformation project.
UTAS provost professor Mike Calford spoke in support of the motion and said the project would create 3000 jobs during construction and many more to follow.
“Our success in obtaining $225 million in government grants for this project was critically dependant on the partnership with this council,” he said.
The motion was moved by Alderman Janie Finlay, who foreshadowed a second motion regarding the land transfer.
Alderman Finlay asked the council to ensure that the right was reserved to use the two parcels of land, including receiving fees from car parking, until the university commenced construction.
Deputy Mayor Rob Soward said the details in the council documents clearly spelt out what would happen if UTAS did not move forward with the project or if the campus was no longer used for educational purposes.
Alderman Danny Gibson said that elected officials should remain informed of the process.
“At all times I have defended the council’s position and I have done that because i have been informed of the facts,” he said.
“It would be very disappointing for the partners to get to the sign off point today, and then for all partners to forget that.”