UTAS unveils plan for 450-bed apartment complex in Melville St
THE University of Tasmania expects work to begin on a 450-bed accommodation complex on Melville St before the end of this year.
Tasmania
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THE University of Tasmania expects work to begin on a 450-bed accommodation complex on Melville St before the end of this year.
University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Rufus Black announced plans for the $50 million complex yesterday, funded by commercial partners.
Professor Black said an in-principle agreement had been reached with those partners to build the complex, to be located across from student accommodation on Elizabeth St.
“The university isn’t going to have to be contributing large amounts of funds to make this happen,” Prof Black said.
“This is a case where the market is sending strong signals, and commercial providers are therefore ready to step in.”
Construction is expected to take between 18 months and two years to complete.
“Our offering to students — both domestic and international — is of the highest standard,” Prof Black said.
“These projects combined will ensure we maintain those standards as our growth in numbers continues.”
The university is also working on a range of accommodation options for 150-200 new beds by semester two, to assist in housing the approximately 200 UTAS students living in substandard accommodation.
“We have some students now that we want to get better housing for, so we’ve got a range of options we’re looking at,” Prof Black said.
But further details of those options remain under wraps.
Prof Black said the university was working on those options without State Government involvement.
Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said every investment in housing took more pressure off Tasmania’s general housing market.
“I want to congratulate the university for not only being a driver of demand but also of supply,” he said.
Labor MLC Sarah Lovell said the announcement from UTAS was positive.
“We know there are problems with housing students and we welcome the announcement today,” she said.
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