New STEM centre’s possible Sandy Bay location

The UTAS STEM Centre might be built at Sandy Bay instead of in the Hobart CBD under a rethink of the University’s long-term vision.

Artists impressions of the development for the UTAS STEM precinct on Argyle and Melville streets, Hobart. Image: SUPPLIED

A $400 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics hub could be built at Sandy Bay instead of in the Hobart CBD.

The University of Tasmania’s STEM centre was planned to fill a 23,000 square metre site on the corner of Argyle and Melville streets. Former UTAS vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen described it as like “putting an intellectual turbocharger into the middle of Hobart”.

The business case for the centre was approved by Infrastructure Australia last February, and there were high hopes that funding would be included in a city deal, which is to be announced in the coming days.

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If funding is not included in the city deal, then the centre may end up at Sandy Bay as part of a long-term strategy that is yet to be finalised.

A spokesman said the university was awaiting an announcement.

“We have reached a point in the ongoing renewal of our facilities in the South where, following consultation, the University Council needs to decide whether we move towards a campus in the city, or whether we continue with a distributed model across central Hobart and Sandy Bay,” he said.

University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black speaking on UTAS solution to housing crisis. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“A crucial piece of this ongoing renewal is a new STEM facility.

“If we are focusing on a university campus centred in the city, that will lead to a new STEM precinct in Hobart’s central business district.

“If we remain with the distributed model, then it is likely we would build our new STEM facility in Sandy Bay.”

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The university already has several offshoots in the CBD including its Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, a Media School at Salamanca, a medical and science precinct centred on the Menzies Centre, an Art School in Hunter St, and student accommodation.

The STEM centre was tipped to bring 3000 students and 700 staff to the city.

It would also save the university from doing $500-600m of renovations to the existing campus, and would potentially allow the sale of land above Churchill Ave.

A Hobart City Deal would be the fourth under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities plan, which includes a $100m deal with Townsville, $300m with Launceston and another in Western Sydney.