Media release – University of Tasmania, 6 November 2024
University of Tasmania’s future direction for its Hobart campus
Following the completion of the new Launceston campus at Inveresk, the University of Tasmania has today outlined the future direction for its campus in Hobart.
The plan, which is contingent on securing significant government funding, is for a Hobart campus with four key sites each providing students with experiences built around the best the city has to offer.
These sites would be a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Campus at Sandy Bay; a City Campus encompassing existing facilities and a fully occupied Forestry Building; a Historic Campus on the Domain, the University’s original home; and a Waterfront Campus comprising the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at Salamanca and Taroona.
To achieve this plan, the next major steps for the University are to:
- Work with the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to develop a plan to fund new STEM facilities at Sandy Bay, which would involve complete retrofits of some existing buildings, the construction of some new buildings, and the enhancement of the natural landscape of the campus
- Locate, from Semester 1, 2026, the Schools of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics in the Forestry Building
- Sell the former K&D site and the corner property encompassing 33 to 37 Bathurst Street and 65 Argyle Street, which are now surplus to requirements
- Engage with the Tasmanian Government about the future of the land above Churchill Avenue and seek support from the Parliament to ensure it is unencumbered so it can be developed to provide a funding contribution to new STEM facilities.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black said the University had been investing in fit-for-purpose campuses around the island for over a decade, so students and staff had access to education and research facilities needed for Tasmania’s future.
“Our top priority now is contemporary STEM facilities in the south. These facilities are urgently needed for students and staff, for the future of STEM education in Tasmania, and for our state’s ability to meet workforce needs,” Professor Black said.
“Developing a specialised campus at Sandy Bay provides opportunities to create a STEM precinct that enables other education providers and industry to co-locate and collaborate. We have to work together to inspire future scientists and teach the skills and create the knowledge that will support a better future for Tasmania.”
The University has an existing business case for a new STEM precinct in the Hobart CBD, which was approved by Infrastructure Australia in 2017. Work has been underway to update this business case, informed by engagement with College of Sciences and Engineering staff and students and key stakeholders, since the Tasmanian Government made its preference for STEM on Sandy Bay clear earlier this year.
“The new STEM facilities that Tasmania needs will cost in the order of $500 million and we will require support from all levels of government, as we saw in Burnie and Launceston,” Professor Black said.
“This is an urgent priority for the state because unless we get started in the next 12 to 18 months, Tasmania won’t have new STEM facilities until well into the 2030s, putting us decades behind the rest of the country.
“STEM facilities really matter when so many new jobs and the competitiveness of our existing industries are dependent on science and technology.”
As planning and engagement on the future of STEM was underway, the University was finalising who would get to move into the former Forestry building, which is due to welcome students and staff for Semester 1, 2026.
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Campus Life (Southern Tasmania) Professor Nicholas Farrelly said the building would be a thriving hub of cross-disciplinary education and research and home to the Schools of Business and Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences.
“This will be a truly incredible teaching and research space in the heart of Hobart,” Professor Farrelly said.
“Filled with state-of-the-art, flexible teaching facilities, the Forestry building is perfectly located for students and staff who are studying and researching the ways our society works economically, culturally and politically.”
Two sites in the CBD – the former K&D and a corner property encompassing 33 to 37 Bathurst Street and 65 Argyle Street – are no longer required to support future teaching and research and will be put on the market in the coming months.
As a strong supporter of Swisherr and its important community engagement, the University will work closely with them and other users of the former K&D site to plan for their future.
The proceeds from the sale of the two sites will be invested in upgrading the University’s facilities including the ongoing project to redevelop the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies facilities at Taroona and the soon to commence research facility for the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture at Newnham.
Professor Black said the future direction for the Hobart campus was formed as the University Council reflected on important matters including the educational needs of Tasmania, staff and student requirements, community feedback, the major new policy and funding directions for higher education set by the Federal Government, the State Government’s legislative plans and stated desire to see STEM remain at Sandy Bay, and the City of Hobart’s planning directions.
Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy, 5 November 2024
Backing in the University of Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government welcomes the University of Tasmania’s announcement of its future vision for a STEM campus at Sandy Bay.
Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy, Madeleine Ogilvie, said Tasmanians deserve access to the most contemporary STEM facilities.
“With this future direction announcement, Tasmanians can be assured our Government will support UTAS in their endeavours to make a STEM-led future at UTAS Sandy Bay a reality,” said Minister Ogilvie.
“I have been working closely with stakeholders to support the University’s important vision for STEM renewal at Sandy Bay. I am certain there will be broad support for this announcement.
“We understand that our important science and ICT sectors offer great potential for economic growth, together with global work opportunities, and that ICT leadership is essential to bridge the digital divide for all Tasmanians. I believe this is what the STEM future at UTAS Sandy Bay will help to achieve.
“We intend to strongly advocate to the Commonwealth to invest in Tasmanian’s STEM-led future.
“What message does it send to Tasmanians if the Commonwealth is unwilling to invest in this vital sector?
“We will be moving our bill through the House of Assembly in the coming parliamentary sitting.”
Media release – City of Hobart, 5 November 2024
City welcomes University of Tasmania’s vision for Hobart campus
The City of Hobart welcomes today’s announcement by the University of Tasmania outlining its vision for a reimagined Hobart campus, including the creation of a world-class Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Hub at its Sandy Bay campus.
This plan, which hinges on securing government funding, aligns with the City’s advocacy priorities for a STEM Hub at the current Sandy Bay campus as well as to support Hobart’s all-important Antarctic and science sectors and grow our competitive advantages.
The proposed Hobart campus plan includes four key sites: a STEM campus at Sandy Bay, a City Campus in central Hobart, a Historic Campus on the Domain, and a Waterfront Campus at Salamanca and Taroona.
This announcement provides a clear path for the development of critical educational infrastructure that will support growth in the sector.
Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds:
“The University of Tasmania’s plan will cement Hobart’s status as a global city for science and innovation – particularly focused on the Antarctic.
“I hope a new STEM Hub at Sandy Bay will build on our existing reputation and create a new chapter for the city.
“There are so many areas that Hobart can offer the nation and the world – research and product development in climate change solutions, marine science, circular economy and sustainability.
“There’s no doubt that our Antarctic and Southern Ocean science will also continue to grow in its importance to the world.
“Hobart plays a leading role in Antarctic and marine science and a new dedicated STEM facility will enhance our capacity to deliver this against rapid technological advances.
“We look forward to supporting the University and advocating for funding to both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to bring this vision to life.
“This investment will have long-term benefits for the community and Hobart’s economy.”
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader; Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Education, 6 November 2024
Labor welcomes UTAS’ future direction – time for the Liberals to get out of the way
Labor stands for safe, secure well-paid jobs and having a university which is able to set our future generations up for employment opportunities of the future is critically important.
We’ve said all along that it should be up to the university to make its own decisions and we back their decision today.
UTAS has made it clearer than ever that the Liberals need to abandon their restrictive legislation which stands in the way of new STEM facilities and risks more young Tasmanians leaving the state.
It’s vital they are able to sell or lease their land to be able to fund the new STEM facility, so why on earth would a government stop them?
Unfortunately, Jeremy Rockliff’s broken budget will significantly impact what the Government can contribute to the build – which only adds to the importance of the Liberals getting out of the way when it comes to the future of the University’s land above Churchill Avenue.
The Government and Save UTAS need to stop talking the University down. More young Tasmanians are leaving because all they hear about the University is that it’s bad.
It’s one of the best universities in the country – and with ambitious plans to improve their facilities and offering to students – we need to get behind it, not hold it back.
Media release – SaveUTAS, 5 November 2024
UTAS’ PARTIAL RELOCATION PLANS WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE UNIVERSITY
SaveUTAS responds to today’s (Tuesday, 5 November 2024) announcement by the University of Tasmania of their revised relocation plans for the university. The following comments can be attributed to Angela Bird, Co-chair of the SaveUTAS Steering Committee:
- UTAS is seeking to mislead the community into thinking this is a backdown on relocation when it is really a partial relocation, with Humanities and Business to pay the price by being isolated from the Sandy Bay campus.
- UTAS is still pushing on with a partial relocation which will be detrimental to the functioning of the university, it’s students and its staff. Announcing that four campuses will replace one fragments the university.
- It undermines the Sandy Bay campus by irrationally locating two key schools, Business and Humanities away from the heart of the campus.
- The recent experience of the School of Business and Economics has shown this will lead to staff and student losses. Students want to be on a connected campus and they will leave Tasmania to go to other universities where they can enjoy campus life.
- If Forestry and K&D plus the Webster’s sites are sold the refurbishment of STEM can start now. The claim by UTAS that it needs $500M is a stunt. A STEM refurbishment has not even been designed much less costed.
Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Education spokesperson, 6 November 2024
Greens Respond to UTAS Announcement
Community advocates and many Hobart residents have achieved a significant outcome with UTAS’s announcement they plan to retain STEM facilities at the Sandy Bay campus and abandon elements of its city move.
More detail is needed about these plans, and clearly significant federal and state government funding will be required for them to be delivered, but this is an important turning point in the long-running debate over the UTAS move.
This decision is clear vindication for the community members, staff, and students who have fought the move. UTAS has finally come to the realisation there is a critical need to retain and invest in the Sandy Bay campus.
This announcement mostly contains broad statements, and the details are going to matter. The Greens will be following this closely, and making sure the community voice continues to be heard. Importantly, we want to ensure UTAS return to core business and make the delivery of quality education and academic research its top priority.
As the state’s only university, Tasmania can’t afford for UTAS to fail. This decision is a step in the right direction, and a move towards investment in the kind of educational infrastructure required to turn out the world-class graduates needed to underpin our future. However we must see broader reform to improve UTAS’ governance, accountability and academic delivery and await the findings of the Legislative Council inquiry.
While it wasn’t part of the announced plan, the University has now stated their intention to return ownership of the bushland reserve to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community. The Greens strongly welcome and support this move. Following the historic UTAS apology to palawa people, returning land is a tangible action that demonstrates commitment to addressing past injustices.
The Greens look forward to engaging with the Aboriginal community, SaveUTAS, the University, our parliamentary colleagues, and the wider community about concerns, opportunities and next steps with regards the future of the University and its land.
We offer our congratulations and thanks to community, academic, student and other campaigners who have fought to recognise and retain the importance and value of the Sandy Bay campus.
Media release – Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 6 November 2024
Business backs University plan
TCCI CEO Michael Bailey said that it was vital southern Tasmania had the best possible university facilities.
“We’ve seen how transformative the University redevelopment in Launceston has been and now it’s time for Hobart to get the facilities it deserves,” Mr Bailey said.
“It’s vital that we have fit-for-purpose facilities especially for STEM but for all faculties more broadly.
“By selling off some assets, looking to make better use of the existing land above Churchill Avenue and seeking Government support, there is a clear pathway to deliver for southern Tasmanians.
“We hope that the Government and those in Parliament will support this plan rather than try and play politics with it. At the end of the day, we all need to back in the University, make sure it has contemporary facilities and a strategy the community can get behind.
“The TCCI is working closely with the University, through our MoU partnership to bring business and higher education closer together and today’s announcement will help strengthen that partnership.”
