The land deal approved by the City of Launceston on Monday to make way for the University of Tasmania’s new Northern campus has been applauded by local stakeholders.
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Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose offered congratulations to the aldermen who approved the transfer and “voted for Launceston’s future”.
“The $260 million City Deal provides for a once in a generation opportunity to transform Launceston into one of the great regional cities in the world,” he said
“This land transfer invests in Launceston’s future far more than a simple dollar value of land, it is an absolute vote of confidence in Launceston and in the local people who will build future generation’s prosperity and economic longevity.”
The transfer of four sites at Inveresk and the land on which the National Automobile Musuem is located to UTAS was in exchange for the construction and land associated with NAMT’s relocation to Lindsay Street.
All aldermen present, except for Alderman Danny Gibson, voted in favour of the exchange.
Chamber president Tim Holder was delighted and said the transfer would enable the UTAS project to proceed.
”Nonetheless, it is disappointing that not all councillors are supporting the ‘enabling land transfer’ from The City of Launceston to UTAS,” he said. “Our future is in education and aspiration, not short-sighted politics.”
Mayor Albert van Zetten said the asset exchange would help realise the largest single infrastructure project in the history of Launceston.
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“This is not just about bringing the students of the future into the city, which has obvious financial benefits, it's also about lifting the profile of Launceston as a university city to an international audience,” he said.
“It's about the thousands of jobs that will be created during the construction phase of the project, and it's about providing new courses and new employment pathways for the students of the future.”
The activation of land at the new University of Tasmania for community use is paramount in the council's planning for the future, the mayor said.
“Obviously there are still things we will need to work through, traffic and parking management being two of those, but those things will flow on from today's decision,” he said.