Improve access - FALSE

Being located closer to the university is not the issue. Research suggests, in Tasmania the biggest barrier for young people is the completion of Year 12 and attaining a satisfactory ATAR score.

• Analysis of potential impact of relocation - Draft report

Stimulate small business - FALSE

This claim is unsupported by research and disputed by CBD traders whose strong opposition forced UTAS to withdraw a CBD development application to partially close Melville Street to create a 'parklet'. The impact of moving 300 staff and 3000 students into the CBD on parking and traffic congestion has not been fully considered by UTAS in their relocation plans.

• Series of articles by city traders published in The Mercury 2021-22

Grow the local economy - MISLEADING

Claims staff and students will contribute $15 million annually to the economy is misleading.

Long term city trader and spokesperson, Denis McLoughlin (speaker no.8 at rally), has repeatedly challenged this statement and says $15 million equates to approximately 4 days of CBD trading. Currently, annual CBD trade is around $100 million dollars. UTAS' presence in the CBD will reduce access to everyday shoppers and workers who will take their business elsewhere potentially creating a downturn in the economy. Further, money spent could be just as easily be spent in Sandy Bay to rectify years of neglect and restore the existing campus as a drawcard for future students from across Tasmania and all over the world.​

Achieving sustainablity goals - LACKING EVIDENCE

Demolishing a signficant number of existing buildings, many still fit-for-purpose and in some cases new or reburbished as recently as 2018, is hardly sustainable practice.

• more to come

New chapter for Sandy Bay - FALSE and MISLEADIING

UTAS' vision for the Sandy Bay campus is, among other things, to build 2700 dwellings (as many homes as all of Blackmans Bay) in buildings up to 8 storeys high at a density 10 times that of surrounding suburbs. The HCC has told UTAS that it's plan is 3000 car parks short and that it's claim to provide attainable housing is 'weak'. UTAS has no plans to address the impact of thousands of additional cars that will choke Sandy Bay Road, Regent Street and Churchill Avenue.

• Bob Cotgrove: Proposed redevelopment of the Sandy Bay Campus by UTAS

• ABC: UTAS plan for Sandy Bay campus 3000 car spaces short

• Ian Johnson's submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry

• Peter Bicevskis's submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry

• UTAS' Sandy Bay Campus Masterplan Risk Register

Enhance green space - FALSE and MISLEADING

UTAS plan to replace extensive parkland and trees, which are a feature of the Sandy Bay campus, with numerous multi-storey apartment buildings. And, in the CBD their current efforts to 'green' their existing spaces consist of potted plants and artifical lawn.

• Ian Johnson’s masterplan showing removal of gardens, bushland and significant trees

• Flip Book 2: Our University is For Sale (see left)

• Impact on native flora and fauna with the destruction of native habitat

• Witness what UTAS has currently undertaken in the CBD re green space in Melville Street

Sandy Bay is no longer fit-for-purpose - FALSE

UTAS' own 2018 report shows that around 60% of existing campus buildings are in 'good' to 'fair' condition. The cost of refurbishing versus relocating is about the same. Unique immovable collections and equipment will have to remain at Sandy Bay, suggesting students will have to travel between the CBD and Sandy Bay to complete their studies.

• UTAS' Sandy Bay building condition and functionality report 2018

• Peter Bicevskis's submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry​

Financial survival - FALSE AND MISLEADING

UTAS offers no evidence to suggest relocation is necessary for the viability of the university. In fact, UTAS publicly claims that it is in a strong financial position.

• John Lawrence submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry

• John Lawerence: UTAS is literally a law unto itself published in The Mercury September 2020

• James Guthrie submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry (Part 1)

• James Guthrie submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry (Part 2)

• UTAS Annual Report 2021

Staff morale

National Tertiary Education Union survey data and media reports point to low levels of staff morale and high levels of stress and dissatisfaction with the UTAS plan to relocate to the CBD.

• NTEU submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry

• NTEU survey of members - Southern Campus move 2019

• ABC: Academic under investigaton by UTAS

• ABC: UTAS splash out on PR; staff and students paint picture of low morale

UTAS claim they are 'consolidating'

UTAS repeatedly use the term 'consolidation' when talking about their relocation to the CBD. They also claim 4 out of 10 students are already studying in the CBD. The term 'consolidation' is misleading:

• Current UTAS buildings not located at Sandy Bay are not in the CBD. Domain House, Menzies Institue for Medical Research, The Hedberg, The Art School at Hunter Street and IMAS at Salamanca all sit outside the CBD boundary.

• Arts and the Conservatorium have never been located on the Sandy Bay campus.

• Menzies and IMAS make sense as they are co-located with RHH and CSIRO respectively.

• What does not make sense is UTAS renting not-fit-for-purpose office space in the KPMG and Vodafone buildings for other faculties/schools when these could have remained at Sandy Bay.

• Student voice