LIVING THIS NIGHTMARE

Michael Foster’s article in the Mercury (June 29) under the heading ‘ UTAS out of touch with public’ provided a good update on where the argument about the university’s plans to relocate to the CBD, and then sell-off, or lease, the Sandy Bay land now stands.

Those letter writers who have penned ‘ gotcha ‘ letters to the Mercury over the past year or so, claiming that UTAS does not have the right to sell the Sandy Bay land, will be interested that somebody has taken the time to tell them that UTAS does in fact have that right.

They will not be happy, but at least they will know.

As Mr Foster has explained, the condition that applied when the Sandy Bay land was originally gifted to the university, which said that if that land ceased to be used for educational purposes, it would revert to the ownership of the state government, was apparently removed by the Government in 1992.

The University Act 1992 says in its preamble, “that the Council of the University has an obligation to act in good faith”.

In proposing to sell the Sandy Bay land, are they in fact, acting in good faith?

Even though, legally, it would seem they can do so.

It would be of great interest to know the background leading up to the government removing that condition. Why did they do it? Who was premier at the time? Who was the University chancellor and VC?

Witch-hunts do not achieve a thing, but it would be interesting to know.

And it is in the public interest that we know. This is a very important matter.

If the university’s plan, is allowed to follow through to its end result, history will judge the university, the Hobart City Council, and the state government, very poorly.

As Simon Bevilacqua so eloquently said in one of his writings “We were sold a dream, but ended up with a nightmare”.

Peter Williams Sandy Bay