Five parcels of land are set to be transferred to the University of Tasmania by the City of Launceston at Monday’s council meeting.
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The land includes half of the circular car park at Inveresk, the site of the National Automobile Museum and the old station building.
The five sites are in addition to the old velodrome site and the Willis Street car park.
This will be done in exchange for the University funding the fixed cost for the construction and land associated with the National Automobile Museum Tasmania relocation to a purpose-built facility costing $4.77million.
“As the full extent of the $260million multi-faceted University Inner City Campus has continued to be developed by the university in conjunction with other stakeholders, further land parcels have been identified as integral to the development of the university and the community-faceted facility at Inveresk,” the council agenda said.
“It is understood that in-principle agreement has been reached between the university, NAMT and a private developer [Errol Stewart] to relocate NAMT to a purpose-built new facility in Lindsay Street opposite North Bank and the silos.”
The assessed value of the land transferred by the council totals $3.565 million.
Alderman Danny Gibson has voiced his disapproval at some aspects of the plan.
He said he felt let down by no mention of access and integration of access to QVMAG in the asset exchange set to be considered on Monday.
Alderman Gibson said the National Automobile Museum's move to a dead end street was perplexing and he was not convinced the exchange was the best deal for ratepayers and residents.
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“I find it ludicrous that we would not have more integration and enhance the public access elements on the Inveresk site with the Automobile Museum. Moreover that we could not actually get a decent amount of cash for the city out of the transfer, rather than it all going to a site that needs more than a million dollars spent for piling,” he said.
“It's all well and good that the volunteer board are happy but at the end of the day, it's the City's asset.”
Alderman Gibson said he felt rushed into a decision.
“Council has not even completed the long awaited parking study and here we are ‘giving away’ half the round circle car park,” he said.
“Even as recently as Tuesday, I met with senior UTAS transformation staff and while conversations were productive and resulted in an additional clause in Mondays recommendation, regarding development of an easement or MOU, I feel very sad that enhanced public access to our museum is not even referenced.
“The needs of a convention centre, a restaurant, three museum collections, all amidst a deal that sees half their car park gone, have not been referenced.”