The state government has revealed it backs plans that could see large parts of the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus rezoned for housing.
Amendments to the ‘University of Tasmania (Protection of Land) Bill’ put forward by the Liberals will allow over 20 hectares of land above Churchill Avenue to be turned into residential land and sold off for hundreds of new homes.
Proceeds from the sale are earmarked for a new $500 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) centre on the lower Sandy Bay campus.
“We support UTAS and believe it is proper for both houses of Parliament to approve any land sell-off,” Innovation, Science and Digital Economy Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said.
“UTAS believe disposal of surplus land above Churchill will help achieve that goal and, following consultation, we will assist by proposing that land is excluded from our bill and available to the university unencumbered.”
“We believe this approach gets the balance right and ensures UTAS campus at Sandy Bay will remain while delivering a future-led STEM plan.”
Labor leader Dean Winter welcomed the “backflip”, saying his party has been proposing the move for months.
“Our position has been clear, we have opposed the anti-development legislation for months and strongly supported the construction of up to 2,000 homes at the Sandy Bay campus and funding for its new $500 million STEM facility,” he said.
“We are ecstatic to get this outcome for the University, students and people who need better housing options.”
Property Council of Tasmania’s Rebecca Ellston said people want housing options and diversity.
“The fact that this could potentially be a mixed-use development such as apartments, townhouses and stand-alone dwellings is a really exciting prospect, especially so close to amenity,” she said.
The Save UTAS group said it “strongly opposes a bill in this form and would prefer no bill at all”.
“We are stunned by the government’s betrayal of both the community and the UTAS staff and also by the complete failure to consult with any stakeholder, including Save UTAS, other than UTAS,” a spokesperson said.
