Councillor Ben Lohberger Profile picture
Mar 31, 2019 59 tweets 60 min read Read on X
The @UTAS_ Council meets on Friday to decide whether to abandon most or all of the beautiful Sandy Bay campus, based on a lie. UTAS claims it can’t refurbish old buildings on the campus, but the evidence says it can. They wasted the💰on CBD buildings instead
#politas #lgtas ImageImageImageImage
The Engineering building at Sandy Bay was built in 1959. A few weeks ago UTAS launched a new state-of-the-art design centre inside this 60-year old building. This facility is one of the most modern teaching spaces in Tasmania. In a 60yo old building
ImageImage
The old engineering building on the Domain campus was built in the 50s or 60s. But UTAS has successfully refurbished it for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, a faculty that clearly involves aspects of Science, and Technology. In an old building
utas.edu.au/infrastructure… ImageImage
The Domestic Arts Building at the Burnie campus was the last surviving building from the old high school, which dated back to 1929. It was heritage-listed, but was refurbished by @UTAS_ years ago. Another old building. It’s a white elephant now
cradle-coast.utas.edu.au/west-park-prec… Image
The Commerce Building (1993) sits above Churchill Ave, but has stood empty for the past three years. Meanwhile, the Centenary Building on the lower campus was also built in 93, but it’s still being used for Economics and Computing. Building age clearly has no relation to use. ImageImage
[redundant tweet making obvious point about Oxford and Cambridge managing somehow with buildings that are 600+ years old, while UTAS does something else]
We’re facing a real existential threat from climate change. But instead of leading the charge to lower emissions, our university is locked into a plan that will create huge, unnecessary emissions. It’s irresponsible vandalism, from our best & brightest #politas #lgtas #weareutas Image
Meanwhile, here’s a job ad from the “place-based” University of Tasmania, in the @smh last weekend. It’s for the Dean of three @UTAS_ campuses in ... Sydney. I don’t think it was advertised in Tasmania’s “place-based” newspapers
#politas #weareutas ImageImage
I’m at tonight’s @cityofhobarttas meeting to ask whether HCC has any concerns about the huge & unnecessary carbon emissions that’ll occur if @UTAS_ abandons the Sandy Bay campus, demolishes old retail buildings in Hobart, & replaces them with a new concrete campus #politas #lgtas Image
A lengthy answer from @cityofhobarttas, that acknowledges the need for some sort of carbon accounting comparison of the options: to abandon some, or all of the Sandy Bay campus. There is of course no such document, because @UTAS_ doesn’t care about the issue as it relates to them
The teaching staff at @UTAS_ are overwhelmingly against the proposal to abandon the unique Sandy Bay campus, and I seem to recall the @TUU_SRC also has concerns. Staff don't want it. Students don't want it. Who does want it?

#politas #lgtas #weareutas
UTAS announces it will abandon the Sandy Bay campus, at a cost of $600 million, instead of refurbishing the campus for $570 million. This is economic and environmental vandalism #politas #lgtas #weareutas
abc.net.au/news/2019-04-0… Image
There was a 3rd choice. Sell the CBD property & use the uh profits to renovate the Sandy Bay campus. They could have had a world-class campus, in a world-class position, for a lot less money. Instead, we get a concrete CBD campus, & a lot of stranded assets at Sandy Bay #politas
Today's email to all @UTAS_ staff about the decision to abandon the Sandy Bay campus. A word salad for the ages. Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#politas #lgtas #weareutas ImageImageImage
The @UTAS_ ‘consultation’ with staff & students included the claim that it’d be cheaper to leave Sandy Bay than to renovate. Now the decision has been made, UTAS reveals it will actually be more expensive to leave. Another lie; it’s like our own little brexit #politas #weareutas Image
During their ‘consultations’ @UTAS_ presented the cheaper cost of moving to the CBD as a “Pro” in favour of the move. These were the numbers:
$445M to move to the CBD
$570M to remain in Sandy Bay

What sort of a University lies so blatantly to its own people? #weareutas #politas Image
A current @UTAS_ student weighs in with a recurring theme of late...
#weareutas #politas
Lots of comments on today’s @themercurycomau article about UTAS abandoning Sandy Bay. Less than 20% in support, while 60% are against #politas
themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/… ImageImage
Where exactly is “Hobart’s blighted urban core”? Does it really exist outside of some overblown sales pitch? And if it does, would it be less blighted if UTAS hadn’t bought a bunch of buildings and then sat on them for years? #politas #weareutas #lgtas
This is disturbing Jason. If what your international students say is true, UTAS seems to have committed itself to a long, slow economic suicide #politas #weareutas
Nobody wants this. Staff hate it. Senior academics are opposed. It costs more than staying. And it’ll destroy a significant pull factor for international students. Why are they doing it? It’s certainly not for the reasons they’re citing #politas #weareutas
Does anyone know what @UTAS_ will do with the Central Science Lab (CSL) at Sandy Bay? The specialised CSL building has just been renovated, and moving the CSL facilities wasn't mentioned in the 'consultation'. Relocating & rebuilding these labs won't be cheap #politas #weareutas ImageImageImageImage
CSL information here: utas.edu.au/research/centr… ImageImageImageImage
Friends in the Glebe say @UTAS_ is meeting them this week to discuss plans for the Domain. It's rumoured they've purchased the Phillip Smith Centre &/or nearby buildings, & work will start soon. There's also talk about the fate of the rose gardens & trees #politas #weareutas ImageImage
Great article in today’s @themercurycomau from a former @UTAS_ academic, questioning many of the claims made by UTAS about abandoning the Sandy Bay campus. Also raises the prospect of the university losing students through the move #politas #lgtas #weareutas Image
A few @UTAS_ memes that are popping up on Facebook. They appear to validate the comments in todays Mercury article - students aren’t happy about the lack of accommodation and parking in #Hobart #lgtas #weareutas ImageImageImage
Students and staff aren’t the only groups opposed to the @UTAS_ plan to abandon the Sandy Bay campus. The #Hobart community also has serious questions, if letters to the @themercurycomau are anything to go by...
#politas #lgtas #weareutas Image
Bob Cotgrove’s article refers to UTAS having political clout. I think he’s referring to this - the Uni Council & senior staff include:
a former Premier
the son of a former Premier
the wife of the current Premier
a former Fairfax editor
a former News Ltd exec
#politas #weareutas Image
“Palpable nonsense.” Tasmania’s most famous author (and former @UTAS_ student) Richard Flanagan highlighting the dishonest arguments used by UTAS to justify its appalling decision to abandon the Sandy Bay campus #politas #lgtas #weareutas themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/…
Flanagan on the clearly dishonest claim by @UTAS_ that retro-fitting older buildings is impossible or too expensive. You can add engineers and builders to the list of professionals who think the claim is laughable #politas #weareutas #lgtas Image
UTAS has already received $250M to abandon the Newnham campus in Launceston, based on exactly the same claim about its inability to refurbish old buildings. They should provide evidence for that claim as well, or give that money back utas.edu.au/__data/assets/…
#politas #weareutas Image
Where is the plan behind the move to abandon Sandy Bay? Where is the proof behind the claims? And who is responsible for the University being publicly dishonest to the point where it has trashed its own reputation? #politas #weareutas #lgtas #Hobart ImageImageImage
“Staff were delighted, while lay administrators fumed.” The last time the university behaved this badly, it took a Royal Commission to sort them out. How much more money can UTAS dishonestly rip out of taxpayers, before the govt intervenes and asks questions? #politas #weareutas ImageImageImage
Greg Barns getting personal about UTAS abandoning the Sandy Bay campus. He’s likely responding to letters in today’s paper, which are all opposed to the move. They make a lot more sense than his tweet, & one appears to be from @UTAS_ Professor Jeff Malpas 🤔 #politas #weareutas ImageImageImage
Apparently @UTAS_ has designs on large portions of the Hobart Domain, with plans for new buildings, a giant carpark, & possibly playing fields. It’s not the first time the uni has tried to take this land away from locals, and it did not go down well last time #politas #weareutas ImageImageImageImage
For more about the Queens Domain in #Hobart, see the inimitable Steph Catalan’s @UTAS_ thesis here: eprints.utas.edu.au/23805/1/Cahala…
“I agree, a disaster”. More letters from the @themercurycomau about the @UTAS_ plan to abandon Sandy Bay #politas #weareutas ImageImageImage
“ludicrous move to the CBD”. Still more letters in today’s @themercurycomau. Interestingly, another letter from an expert involved with the uni science labs, casting doubt on UTAS’s claimed focus on improving STEM facilities & outcomes. Was it all just a Trojan horse? #politas Image
“The [Hobart City] Council is not aware of any further detail other than what has been publically released by UTAS to the media.” The @cityofhobarttas confirms in writing that @UTAS_ hadn’t spoken to it about the rates offer announced weeks ago #politas #weareutas #lgtas Image
This week’s Sunday Tas(28/4) newspaper features a double-page(2&3) @UTAS_ advert about the new arts school, the $96M Hedberg. The fine print says “Ask a question or find an answer”, but there are no answers. Maybe after May 1? The options on the question form are also interesting ImageImageImage
Finally an article defending the UTAS move to abandon Sandy Bay. The writer claims the move will help the "numerous rundown neighbourhoods" around the city(!). But he presents no evidence, probably because there is none. It's a poor effort #politas #lgtas themercury.com.au/news/opinion/t…
“I pity future generations at UTAS.” The overwhelming majority of online comments are highly critical of Henry Reynolds’ article, and the decision to abandon the Sandy Bay campus #politas #lgtas #weareutas ImageImageImageImage
The only compelling thing about the article is the questions it raises:
- where are the “numerous rundown neighbourhoods” around Hobart?
- what does architectural merit have to do with educational outcomes?
- how is Hobart not already a university town?
#politas #weareutas #lgtas ImageImage
This has been an open secret at @UTAS_ for years....
If @UTAS_ truly had no idea about big problems with English language comprehension among international students, why did it partner with NZ-based ACG in March to deliver 'pathways' to international students, at a cost of $20,700pa per student #cashcows #politas #weareutas ImageImageImage
Just out of interest, ACG's location on the Sandy Bay campus is inside the Old Commerce Building, which was abandoned three years ago because it was apparently structurally unsound.
“I am sure that I am not the only one who cannot understand what he is saying.” Letter to the editor about the impenetrable prose of UTAS Vice Chancellor @_RufusBlack #TheEmperorsNewClothes
From yesterday’s @themercurycomau #politas #weareutas ImageImage
VC @_RufusBlack also seemed to admit this week that the Central Science Laboratory will stay in Sandy Bay, meaning CBD-based STEM students & staff would have to commute back-&-forth to use them. Letter from Distinguished UTAS Professor Ross Large spells it out #politas #weareutas ImageImage
Is this where all the money is coming from? UTAS has sold rental income from 1800 student ‘beds’ for the next 30 years, along with first right of refusal for new student accommodation builds. All in return for an upfront payment, which is secret, of course #politas #weareutas ImageImageImageImage
How to blow a 30-year windfall #politas #weareutas Image
Links
DIF(Dutch Investment Fund): dif.eu/news/2439-dif-…
Tetris Capital: tetriscapital.com/portfolio
UTAS announcement: utas.edu.au/latest-news/ut…
“This is madness.” Former long-time Tasmanian journalist Bruce Montgomery sums up the decision to abandon the Sandy Bay campus. From yesterday’s @themercurycomau themercury.com.au/news/opinion/t… #politas #lgtas #weareutas Image
UTAS admits its proposed Launceston campus, at Inveresk, is vulnerable to climate change-driven floods. The Newnham campus that it’s abandoning is above the flood zone, & has plenty of room for expansion. Of course. From Saturday’s @themercurycomau #politas #weareutas #lgtas ImageImageImage
The Singapore Govt says it will no longer recognise UTAS medical degrees. The UTAS Medical Students Society says Singaporean students make up the majority of international students studying medicine. UTAS says this is uh fine. From today’s @themercurycomau #weareutas #politas ImageImage
So @UTAS_ has sent a letter to the Council calling for the creation of a ‘City of Hobart and UTAS Governance Forum,’ apparently to discuss planning & rates issues. And they want to influence the make-up of the Council representatives #politas #lgtas ImageImageImageImage

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More from @BenGlenHuon

Jan 31, 2022
Why did Hobart City Council send a confidential two-page briefing to its/our elected members, secretly urging them to “collaborate” with UTAS on its proposal to redevelop the S/Bay campus? I just asked HCC to release the document, so we can all see it... #LGTas #politas
... but they’ve taken all three of my questions on notice, and blamed their inability to answer on the short period of time since I sent the questions. Just for the record, I sent them on Tuesday 14 January, almost two weeks ago.
The only other questions were from Brian Corr, who asked why the HCC reimbursed petrol costs for Ald Behrakis & Cr Coats that were unusually high for both, & were racked up while both were allegedly on a leave of absence to campaign in the state election. Awkward #LGTas #politas
Read 4 tweets
Feb 12, 2019
The purchase of the former Forestry Tasmania building is not the only real estate deal that's seen UTAS take a financial bath, at taxpayer's expense. Thread.
#politas #lgtas #Hobart
The former Forestry Tasmania building was previously owned by Calbourne Nominees, a company associated with the Rockefellers. According to the ABC, the property was valued at $5.7 million and UTAS paid $15 million Image
Calbourne Nominees were also the company that applied to the @cityofhobarttas to demolish the forestry dome last year themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/…
Read 49 tweets

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