University of Tasmania plans another development for Hobart’s centre

UTAS is poised to expand its growing footprint in the heart of Hobart by building a flagship science and technology precinct to cater for an extra 4000 students.

visit several building sites around Hobart being constructed for the Tasmanian University,, ,picture showing the possible new site on the corner of Melville Street and Argyle Street.

THE  University of Tasmania is poised to expand its growing footprint in the heart of Hobart by building a flagship science and technology precinct to cater for an extra 4000 students.

A proposal to move the university’s science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) research and training facilities into the CBD is the only education project identified in Infrastructure Australia’s 15-year national infrastructure plan, to be released today.

The university says the move will involve an expansion of its STEM facilities by 200 academic staff, 300 post-doctoral staff and 200 PhD students, opening the branch to 4000 more students.

It has identified a 23,000sq m site on the corner of Argyle and Melville streets, occupied by the old Webster building and a carpark, as its next CBD location.

The site is close to the univer­sity’s $65 million, 15-storey student accommodation development under construction on the corner of Elizabeth and Melville streets.

Infrastructure Australia, the main independent body that advises the Commonwealth on where it should direct infrastructure funding, is backing the university’s “head-turning” plan as way to boost Hobart’s economy and defy projections of sluggish population growth.

Three other Tasmanian infra­structure projects identified as national priorities in the report were:

A REPLACEMENT Bridgewater Bridge.

CONTINUATION of irrigation schemes.

THE Burnie to Hobart road and rail freight corridor.

All three projects have been nominated by the State ­Government.

The university accommodation site on the corner of Elizabeth and Melville streets.

University Vice-Chancellor Peter Rathjen said more science, technology, engineering and mathematics students were needed to drive the state’s economy.

“The future of our state and its economy will be delivered through a series of new and reimagined industries, and will require a greater number of graduates in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,’’ Professor Rathjen said.

“The proposal for a flagship science and technology precinct sits within a set of ideas which are now very familiar in Hobart, and emerging at our campuses in Launceston and the Cradle Coast — ideas that see our campus buildings part of the city landscape with ­activities aligned strongly with industry, creating opportunities for exciting new fields of academic endeavour.

“We see such a hub creating the scale, physical and intellectual environment to progress potential developments inbio-technology, bio-engineering, ICT and multimedia.”

The University of Tasmania is expected to reveal more ­detail about its proposal today.

Infrastructure Australia chairman Mark Birrell said the university had an outstanding vision for revitalising the Hobart CBD.

“It’s a head-turning project that will help boost one of the capital cities that we want to back in,” Mr Birrell said.

“We’ve seen the population projections for Tasmania and we want to try to prove them wrong.”

Infrastructure Australia predicts the nation’s four biggest cities will swallow three quarters of projected national population growth of 8.2 million people by 2031.

Smaller cities, including Hobart, are projected to grow much more slowly, meaning Infrastructure Australia is keen on projects that will help smaller cities absorb more of the growth expected to hit Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Mr Birrell said the Australian infrastructure plan and infra­structure priority list provided the nation’s first 15-year infrastructure plan, looking at nationally significant projects and nationally important ­reforms.

“If we get this right, we will improve the quality of life and productivity of Australia and we will strengthen great cities like Hobart,” he said.

“People are wanting to get away from the shorter term partisan debates and get into proper integrated planning.

“I’ve been delighted with the input from the Tasmanian Government over the last year, it has been critical in making this a practical and visionary document. The partnership ­approach being taken by the Tasmanian Government is very helpful.”