Letter to the Editor … UTAS takeover

In May 2015 Launceston City Council (LCC), Peter Gutwein, Will Hodgman, TASTAFE and UTas signed a Memorandum of Understanding to move the UTas campus from Newnham to the Inveresk Precinct.

Subsequently LCC gave free land to Utas – Willis St car park (returning$88,000 annually to council) and the old velodrome (Bike Track) A 1500 signed petition by ratepayers and meetings to sell land to UTas went ignored by Mayor and Aldermen.

After many meetings by UTas an d LCC in secrecy it is now revealed to a meeting of UTAs staff on 29th June that UTas will take over Albert Hall

(600 seat lecture room), the miniature railway station building (replace with glossy yellow cylinder), train and rails – tram and tramshed, all parking to go, takeover grassed centre and build.

The intention is to take over all at the centre except the Museum.

The hit list includes Show Society land and Inveresk market and put in a 750 car park on the wood chopping arena near the Equestrian arena.

Willis St site a massive building with 490 car park underneath and take over and close Wills St and call it a ‘Piazza’ and the Auto museum to go.

Not even Invermay Park, the Invermay Bowls Club or Elizabeth Gardens are safe.

May I suggest to the Mayor and Aldermen include the Museum (losing $4M a year) and York Park and the whole Precinct and sell the lot to UTas and Gutwein-Hodgman government for $500M.
Basil Fitch, Waveney St