Imagine an area of Bega devoted purely to education.
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This is a future currently being contemplated by NSW Infrastructure Minister and Member for Bega Andrew Constance after the council’s purchase of the old hospital site.
“I would love to see an education precinct through the heart of Bega that encapsulates the high school, the TAFE, the university and Tulgeen,” Mr Constance announced this week.
“I have this vision to relocate TAFE to the hospital site, so I’d be interested in getting the community’s feedback.
“There are some options, but nothing concrete.”
Mr Constance said he had spoken about the concept with Skills Minister John Barilaro and Health Minister Jillian Skinner and an announcement can be expected “fairly soon”.
“I would like to see TAFE expanded in Bega,” he said.
“I want to make sure it grows and gets stronger, I want to talk it up.”
BVSC general manager Leanne Barnes said it is also council’s vision to make the site an education hub that services the South-East.
“One site that pulls together a range of different operators, catering for people at all stages of life,” she said.
The idea comes shortly after Mr Barilaro announced a restructuring of TAFE and 12 new “digital learning centres”, including the move towards digital headquarters in regional NSW.
The government also earmarked reinvesting money from land or asset sales back into the TAFE system.
A Melbourne University report released this week by Dr Cain Polidano from the Melbourne Institute found extra public funding of vocational education and training, including TAFE and private colleges, reduces the costs of crime.
“We found that for every extra dollar spent on VET, the community saved 18 cents in avoided crime costs, such as lost productivity, health and rehabilitation costs,” Dr Polidano said.
Mr Constance said he aware of the current local government budget climate.
“I am wary that some ratepayers are concerned about council,” Mr Constance said.
“I understand people want to be asked.”
He also hinted at the possibility parcels of the land could be opened for housing.
According to the council, the 3.1 hectare block and its buildings present a number of challenges BVSC and Health Infrastructure are working together to overcome. There is some demolition and remediation work that needs to take place, before buildings can be developed, repurposed or tenanted.
It’s understood the Heads of Agreement with Health Infrastructure is for the council to purchase the site for $850,000 as is, if tenancies can be secured and feasibility requirements met.
The hospital site has not yet been sold to council and it said the agreement in place is non-binding.
“Council is working to make this a commercial reality that is not a future burden on ratepayers,” Ms Barnes said.