UTAS housing plan wins mixed support

EARLY discussions about the future of the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus have identified opportunities for housing developments on the site – but not everyone is thrilled by the idea.

The first stage of a fourphase UTAS consultation process, which ran from July 21 to August 22, involved 398 people who participated in face-to-face conversations, focus group discussions, open house events, and who submitted responses via the Reimagine Sandy Bay website.

The university is relocating to the city, where it will stretch across five precincts in the Hobart CBD. It’s anticipated the $600m move will be completed by 2030.

Among the most desired outcomes for the 100ha Sandy Bay site identified included the adaptive re-use of existing campus buildings and sports precinct, continued public accessibility, protection of the site’s natural assets, and the provision of “diverse” housing options.

“Strongest criticisms received were around the relocation of the campus itself, as well as concern for high density infill development,” a summary of the first consultation phase reads.

“Social and attainable housing was a passionate topic, but opinions were divisive among participants.”

The redevelopment of the site will require the university to submit a planning scheme amendment lodgement to the Hobart City Council.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the redevelopment of the Sandy Bay campus site was “a really important opportunity to develop something that is highquality and consolidates Hobart’s reputation as a sustainable and liveable city”.

“We would like to see a diverse mix of well-designed housing and also sites for economic development with a focus on research, science or innovation,” Cr Reynolds said.

“We also support the vision of retaining the bushland and the sporting ovals.”

“We think that the site is more suited to medium density housing, not high density. Any urban renewal project should aim to provide a diversity

of housing types so that people on a range of incomes can have an opportunity to be part of the new community.”

A UTAS spokesman said community interest in the redevelopment had been high and “already clear themes

have emerged” that would inform the development of guiding principles and eventually a shared vision for the project.

“Careful development of the site will have a range of community benefits for the

suburb and the city across education, public amenity and housing,” the spokesman said. “We encourage anyone interested to get in touch either via the website, at a dropin session or via an online workshop.”