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| Go to The Guardian Story |
We might say that "Tasmania is different" but is it? Or, is it so different?
Malcolm Turnbull is right on the money when he says that infrastructure money needs to be spent well and in partnership with the regions where it is to be spent.
So the Prime Minister tells us that the Federal Government will “no longer be a passive ATM doling out grants for infrastructure”, in a lecture lauding the economic and social potential of transport infrastructure to “make cities [regions?] wonderful places to live”.
In Northern Tasmania we might well ask how the bucket of dollars that the university is asking for right now might stack up given the kind of scrutiny the Prime Minister is now talking about.
As 'the plan' stands the modelling that's apparently informing 'the push' is something of a mystery.
So the Prime Minister tells us that the Federal Government will “no longer be a passive ATM doling out grants for infrastructure”, in a lecture lauding the economic and social potential of transport infrastructure to “make cities [regions?] wonderful places to live”.
In Northern Tasmania we might well ask how the bucket of dollars that the university is asking for right now might stack up given the kind of scrutiny the Prime Minister is now talking about.
As 'the plan' stands the modelling that's apparently informing 'the push' is something of a mystery.
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| Click here for the ABC story |
An ABC report tells us West Tamar councillor Peter Kearney has said that he was concerned the new development would reduce the university's research capacity. It reported that he wanted to know if the university planed to continue having senior academic staff in Launceston.
Reportedly, Councillor Kearney went on to ask "are we going to go on having research at highest level? Are we going to go on having doctorates, masters produced and are they going to go on moving things from their back offices to Hobart?"
The report said that Councillor Kearney also claimed the university had been keeping its plans a "secret".
"Why has this been a secret? Why didn't they come out earlier?" he asked. "They've [UTas] talked to the Launceston City Council but they've talked to no-one else in the region."
These are all very good questions. And given Malcolm Turnbull's enunciations today you do have wonder how the UTas game of 'gigerypoker' might play out in the end.
When it comes down to it, it seems that there is too little known about the programs to be offered, the delivery methods, their cost, the value created in the community and just where the funding will actually come from.
If you know these things then you can compare and contrast this infrastructure proposal agains all comers.
UTas says relocating its Launceston and Burnie campuses will process an extra 12,000 students over the next decade. But on what modelling, from where and on what evidence?
Again UTas estimates that 3110 jobs will be created through its plans for Northern Tasmania. Again, on what modelling and what evidence?
The business proposal''s total cost is estimated at $300 million all coming from tax and ratepayers. The question does have to be asked "for what bang for their buck?"
The Financial Review Monday 18th. January 2016 Charter Hall has acquired the development rights for the new Western Sydney University at Parramatta from Leighton Properties. Interestingly, this sounds so, so unfamiliar in Launceston.
When finished next year the Western Sydney project will have an end value of $220 million, be 100% pre-leased to Western Sydney University for 15 years and be home to more than 10,000 students. There are some resonances here but in a different context.
UTas wants the Federal Government to un-cap the number of places for associate degrees. This is where it expects most student growth to come from. Again, on what modelling and what evidence?
If the Prime Minister is actually telling us that the Federal Government will “no longer be a passive ATM doling out grants for infrastructure,” when UTas goes inside to the branch accountant and goes looking for the kind of money their aspirations tell them they want, they had better have some answers for such questions.
If there are alternative infrastructure propositions then consortium putting this "campus move push" together had better do their numbers, and the modelling and get the social license. It'd be a good idea if they took the community into their confidence as well.
"Trust us we are the university" just might not cut it this time and in the 21st Century.
When it comes down to it, it seems that there is too little known about the programs to be offered, the delivery methods, their cost, the value created in the community and just where the funding will actually come from.
If you know these things then you can compare and contrast this infrastructure proposal agains all comers.
UTas says relocating its Launceston and Burnie campuses will process an extra 12,000 students over the next decade. But on what modelling, from where and on what evidence?
Again UTas estimates that 3110 jobs will be created through its plans for Northern Tasmania. Again, on what modelling and what evidence?
The business proposal''s total cost is estimated at $300 million all coming from tax and ratepayers. The question does have to be asked "for what bang for their buck?"
The Financial Review Monday 18th. January 2016 Charter Hall has acquired the development rights for the new Western Sydney University at Parramatta from Leighton Properties. Interestingly, this sounds so, so unfamiliar in Launceston.
When finished next year the Western Sydney project will have an end value of $220 million, be 100% pre-leased to Western Sydney University for 15 years and be home to more than 10,000 students. There are some resonances here but in a different context.
UTas wants the Federal Government to un-cap the number of places for associate degrees. This is where it expects most student growth to come from. Again, on what modelling and what evidence?
If the Prime Minister is actually telling us that the Federal Government will “no longer be a passive ATM doling out grants for infrastructure,” when UTas goes inside to the branch accountant and goes looking for the kind of money their aspirations tell them they want, they had better have some answers for such questions.
If there are alternative infrastructure propositions then consortium putting this "campus move push" together had better do their numbers, and the modelling and get the social license. It'd be a good idea if they took the community into their confidence as well.
"Trust us we are the university" just might not cut it this time and in the 21st Century.
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