UTAS to lease showgrounds despite gripes

CITY of Launceston Council has decided to lease the former Inveresk Showgrounds site to the University of Tasmania after considering five representations against the move.

The council last Thursday voted unanimously in favour of letting UTAS take control of the site for 20 years to develop an 852 space, $4.5 million carpark. The terms of the lease are yet to be determined.

The car park would service the university’s new Inveresk campus, UTAS Stadium and the general public.

Tas Breeders submitted a representation against the motion, requesting council defer the lease until after February 23, 2021, to allow it to hold its Tasmanian Magic Millions

Yearling Sale. “We have already outlined the prohibitive factors for TMMYS to establish an alternative arrangement at such short notice,” the submission said.

Submissions were also made on behalf of Northern Tasmanian Network Partners and Associates, Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Incorporated and two ratepayers.

It was claimed council had not readily made available enough information about the site or development to the community, the development would be “unstable”, and increased traffic to the area would cause issues.

Councillor Hugh McKenzie said discussions around the university’s transition to Inveresk had been ongoing.

“The concept of parking has been discussed for a long period of time, and there have been a number of alternatives that they have considered through that process,” he said.

“I see this as a use of land which is appropriate.

“It provides a number of opportunities for use for Launceston residents as well as UTAS.”

Cr McKenzie said UTAS was unable to defer its development timeline as it had to meet a number of state and Commonwealth funding obligations.

“Not to mention the fact that they’re going to be displacing a number of car parks in Willis St, and also on their own site behind the architecture building,” he said.

“I believe that sufficient information has been provided.”