TAFE: Ridgeway Ave campus in Southport to be transformed

The fate of the long-empty former Southport TAFE campus on Ridgeway Ave can finally be revealed, with the site set to be transformed. FIND OUT HOW

The state government will offload the former Ridgeway Ave TAFE campus in Southport which will be transformed into housing and community open space.

Around 2200 sqm will be given to the Department of Housing for social housing aimed at seniors. while 3ha will be turned over to the Gold Coast City Council.

The council site will be used for open space and a telecommunications facility.

Small Business Minister Di Farmer said proceeds raised from the sales would be spend on TAFE infrastructure.

The former Gold Coast Institute of TAFE's Ridgeway Avenue campus at Southport.

“Once a centre for vocational education and training on the Gold Coast, it’s encouraging to see the site of the former Ridgeway TAFE Campus will continue to serve the public in the form of open space and potentially as a community facility,” she said.

“This is a very positive outcome and I look forward to seeing how the Gold Coast City Council will transform the site, to meet the needs of Queenslanders, while embracing the city’s unique lifestyle and environment.”

Ms Farmer said the decision to hand some of the land to council fulfilled the government’s 2020 election promise.

Di Farmer. Picture David Clark

Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the handover and ruled out developing the site.

“This has been a long-time coming and the City is pleased to have negotiated with the State Government to secure this community asset for Gold Coasters,” he said.

“Council has made sure this land will be used for park and community use, ensuring we stick to our commitment to deliver green space assets for the public to enjoy.”

The former campus closed in July 2012, with its students and staff relocated to the nearby Ashmore TAFE facility.

The state government in 2020 spent more than $340,000 to demolish the remaining buildings, which had sat empty for more the eight years. Security and maintenance on the site was costing more than $500,000 a year.

Gold Coast residents IN 2020 submitted a petition calling for the vacant Ridgeway campus TAFE on the corner of Drury Ave and Benowa Rd in Southport to be used. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Community leaders, including long-time local Judith DeBoer, have long called for the state government to do something with the land rather than leave it abandoned.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the remaining land not given to the council would be used to build new homes.

“This is an exciting redevelopment which will allow us to build more social housing for Queensland seniors,” she said.

“And as we focus on our Big Build delivering more social housing right across Queensland, we are also ensuring training opportunities are available for the next generation of tradies.

“While this TAFE site is no longer operational, there are more tradies being trained up at the nearby Ashmore TAFE campus and this helps us to secure the workforce needed for future construction of even more social housing for Queenslanders.”