A Launceston City Councillor says UTAS did not reveal the basis of its estimates about the benefits of relocating the Newnham campus, before councillors voted unanimously to donate property worth $4.5 million to the project.
The councillor, who requested anonymity, said [amongst many other things] councillors were happy to take UTAS at its word.
But the revelation raises questions about the commitment of $300 million by the state and federal governments.
The LCC gave property worth at least $4.5 million based only on heroic estimates and glossy pamphlets from the ultimate recipient of all the money.
So have any of the state and federal politicians responsible for allocating another $300 million done any work of their own to verify the outlandish claims that underpin this proposal?
Where is the proof of a strong causal link between moving campuses and attracting 300% more students?
What is the make-up of the claimed $70 million maintenance backlog, and how did it come about?
Is the Newnham campus really the main reason for declining enrolments?
And does renovating existing buildings really cost 150% more than constructing new buildings?
The next Launceston City Council meeting is at 1pm today, 25 July 2016, at the Town Hall.
*Ben Lohberger has worked in media and politics in Tasmania for the past 15 years, most recently for the Huon Valley Council, and before that Aurora Energy. He lives in the Huon Valley, and is a longtime contributor to TasmanianTimes. Comments on this article are welcome, but any personal comments about the author must be directed to him personally at his Twitter account @benglenhuon
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