Meeting call over city move by UTAS

HOBART City Council plans to organise a meeting with University of Tasmania staff and students, the Save UTAS Campus group, university management and the state government, to further discuss the controversial campus move from Sandy Bay to the CBD.

Councillor Louise Elliot urged at Monday’s meeting for further community consultation, citing an elector poll that showed 74 per cent of Hobart City voters were against the UTAS move.

Ms Elliot believed the council had not yet undertaken thorough consultation.

“We have an elector poll with the vast majority of people saying they do not want something,” she said.

Councillor Ben Lohberger said the greater Hobart region should be allowed to have a say on the UTAS move.

He suggested amendments to Ms Elliott’s motion, which were accepted, including that Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds write to the university.

“This proposal will affect the entire greater Hobart region, but most of Hobart were effectively excluded by UTAS,” Mr Lohberger said.

“It’s time the whole city and the outskirts were given the chance to have their say.”

Alderman Marti Zucco said the council had written to the university before.

“Where did we get? We got nowhere,” Mr Zucco said.

Mr Zucco suggested an amendment that the council facilitate a meeting between the various interest groups.

All parts of the motion were passed, though each item was opposed by Greens councillors Helen Burnett and Bill Harvey.

Mr Posselt supported one part of the motion and opposed all others.

In a separate matter, the council committed to developing a structure plan for Sandy Bay as the next step of the elector poll.