Government silent on new TAFE campus for Gosford – will Labor commit?

EARLY NOVEMBER 2021 saw the NSW Government announce that it would investigate building a new, state-of-the-art TAFE NSW campus in the heart of Gosford CBD to be developed by Landcom.

At that point Landcom was negotiating with Central Coast Council to buy the former Gosford Council Chambers building and adjacent land which would be the site for the new TAFE

At its 14 December 2021 meeting Council resolved to enter into a MOU with Landcom and the Technical and Further Education Commission to jointly assess the suitability of the Gosford property for the redevelopment into a new TAFE NSW campus and to enter into a Deed of Option with Landcom and TAFE subject to reclassification of the land and an independent valuation.

And then…. all quiet. For intents and purposes, the November 2021 Landcom announcement appeared to be a furphy.

By early December 2022 – a year later –Council Administrator, Rik Hart, came out issuing a deadline for the state government to buy the property.

Further, he gave the government until 31 March 2023 to complete the purchase (note that there will be a new government by the end of March).

Assuming that Landcom had done their homework in the period prior to November 2021 it would appear that this proposal, that would see a new campus built as part of the Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct, would already be underway.

This would, Landcom said, “support the creation of 1,000 local jobs and up to 3,000 tertiary and vocational education opportunities.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet added weight to the proposal saying, “the NSW Government is championing the state’s growth by developing education and industry precincts.

“The growth, innovation and evolution of the Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct will underpin the economy of the area as well as provide greater access to jobs, goods and services.”

The proposed state-of-the-art campus would replace the present TAFE built over 50 years ago which would be demolished and redeveloped for much needed affordable housing.

In addition, the proposal will also integrate TAFE NSW with the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, providing them with a permanent home and secure future.

Landcom CEO John Brogden said the proposed vertical TAFE campus would free up land for redevelopment that will act as the catalyst for the renewal of the Gosford CBD.

“Landcom has a proud history of developing sites throughout NSW which are synonymous with quality, affordability, and sustainability which we will replicate here in Gosford,” Mr. Brogden said.

“This site provides the potential for delivery of high-quality housing targeting more affordable ownership and rental with excellent access to facilities and transport in the Gosford CBD.”

The business case forms a key part of ensuring a strong, sustainable, and futureproofed TAFE NSW that can meet NSW’s training needs by ensuring it is equipped with the right facilities and equipment to do the job.

Procrastination the name of the game With a 12-month delay in progressing this proposal it appears Mr. Perrottet, and his government are procrastinating the same way they did with the University of Newcastle Gosford Campus that took three years for them to come up with the $18 million they promised in February 2019.

So, the question now is will a Minns Labor Government proceed with the proposed plan given that it ticks a lot of boxes:

• The present TAFE being over 50 years old is no longer fit for purpose. A new TAFE with state-of-the-art learning facilities and covering a wider range of trades is desperately needed in Gosford,

• Provides for additional space for the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music,

• Redevelop the old TAFE site for much needed affordable housing.