Elector poll results prompt call to sell off big buildings in CBD

The results of the elector poll on the UTAS move were loud and clear, and now the group behind the poll say there’s one big thing the university can do to restore faith.

Results in University of Tasmania’s elector poll have been revealed. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The University of Tasmania should sell off buildings in Hobart’s CBD, according to Save UTAS Campus chair Pam Sharpe, after the results of an elector poll showed the majority of Hobart City voters were against its campus move.

The results of the elector poll were returned on Saturday and showed only 25.62 per cent of electors supported moving the campus from Sandy Bay to Hobart’s CBD.

Since then, the university has withdrawn its current planning scheme amendment for Sandy Bay.

Prof. Sharpe said the university needed to commit to stopping the move.

“They’re not doing anything, whereas there is so much they need to do to restore the reputation of the university and build trust with the community,” Prof. Sharpe said.

Save UTAS rally at Parliament lawns, Professor Pam Sharpe speaks. Picture: Chris Kidd

When asked if the university planned to put an end to the move, UTAS vice chancellor Rufus Black said the situation was complicated.

“With 40 per cent of southern staff and students already based in the city and approved projects underway for the Forestry Building and the Philip Smith building on the Domain, this is more complex that a simple yes or no,” Prof. Black said.

“That is why it is important we work with the Hobart City Council on the way forward.

“It is also why it is important The Shake Up consultation process continues as planned with a final report to be publicly released before the end of the year.”

Prof. Sharpe said selling off buildings would show the university was committed to ceasing the move.

“They can really win friends and influence people by stopping their plans completely, selling their buildings in the city and fixing up buildings on the campus [in Sandy Bay] or building new ones,” Prof. Sharpe said.

“It’s the new purchases over the last few years … we’ve always had the belief if something was already located until this point, those were sensible and should stay.

“We would want the selling off of the forestry building, the K & D site and the site on the corner of Melville and Argyle Street, that’s been empty for eight years.”

REVEALED: University of Tasmania’s elector poll results

Hobart ratepayers have voted overwhelmingly against the University of Tasmania’s proposal to relocate the Sandy Bay campus into the CBD.

The vote to support the move was 25.62 per cent with 74.38 per cent against.

The count of 30, 428 votes in the elector poll was completed on Saturday morning and the University Council conceded its “consultation and engagement has not been successful” and has withdrawn its current planning scheme amendment for Sandy Bay which included 2700 new homes.

Opponents of the move called for the UTAS to abandon the city move.

Vice-Chancellor Rufus Black said the university would work with Hobart City Council on planning a way forward.

“We have clearly heard the perspective of those who voted in the Hobart City Council elector poll, and we recognise that councillors have been elected in part to address the issue of the University’s plans for the CBD and Sandy Bay,” Prof Black said.

“A clear message is that the future of the Sandy Bay campus is important for Hobart as well as the University, so we will work with the City of Hobart as the planning authority on the best way forward.

“To allow for this, we are withdrawing our current planning scheme amendment for Sandy Bay.”

Save UTAS Campus chair Pam Sharpe said the university needed to listen to electors and abandon its plan.

Colleen McCulloch, Denis McLoughlin, Pam Sharpe chair of Save UTAS campus group, Ben Lohberger, Fletcher Clarke. Members of Save UTAS campus supporters group in relation to the Hobart City Council elector poll gauging public support of the campus move from Sandy Bay to the city. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The elector poll has been emphatic in its result,” Prof. Sharpe said.

“If UTAS management had any respect for the community, it should abandon its relocation project now … at the same time, the parliament should order an immediate and independent inquiry into this debacle.

“This is unprecedented and a government, council or educational institution would ignore it at their peril.”

The vote is not legally binding, the university isn’t required to cease its move based on the result.

The site would be split into five precincts and include a range of housing options including 2700 new homes.

The elector poll was held after a petition by Save UTAS Campus garnered more than 1000 signatures with a few weeks.

Since then, a public meeting was held, with several staff, students, business leaders and other community representatives voicing their concerns around the move.