Witt’s $25m bid rejected

The boss of Taranaki’s polytech has hit out at a decision to decline its $25 million bid for Government shovel-ready funding, saying the whole region loses out.

The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki, or Witt, has been told its application under the programme for a campus development at its Bell St site has been unsuccessful.

The work would have created 120 jobs, and Witt chief executive John Snook said he was ‘‘beyond disappointed by the outcome’’.

‘‘The news that our projects will not be backed leaves me with a sense of sadness for the whole community.’’

An earlier proposal by Witt, to build a precinct at Taranaki Base Hospital to focus on the training needs of health professionals, was previously turned down.

Snook called the latest rejection, announced to Witt on Friday, as ‘‘another lost opportunity to improve the educational and economic possibilities’’.

‘‘In the end, it’s not only our learners who miss out, the whole region loses,’’ Snook said.

‘‘So many young people could have benefited.’’

Along with the impact on learners, Snook said the economy had also lost out.

‘‘Taranaki has already forgone quarter of a billion dollars over the last 10 years because Witt hasn’t been right-sized.’’

The polytech has not benefited from any major infrastructure investment since it was opened in 1972.

Last month, the privatelyowned Green School in Oakura successfully applied to the shovelready fund, securing $11.7m for an expansion.

The money will allow the school’s roll to grow to 250 and secure 200 construction jobs.

However, the decision was met with derision from Taranaki educators, who decried a lack of infrastructure investment in state education.

New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young, of National, expressed disappointment about Witt and said both projects had been an ‘‘outstanding opportunity’’.

Glen Bennett, Labour candidate for New Plymouth, said he was 100 per cent committed to Witt’s growth and if he won the seat he could champion the development plans.

Meanwhile, Snook said there was a Witt board meeting coming up where he expected a ‘‘full and frank discussion’’ to take place about its infrastructure needs and where it would go from here.