UNE executive Peter Creamer says The Old Teachers’ College “is surplus to our requirements” and the university will no longer manage the iconic building.
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The decision ends months of speculation and casts doubt over the building’s future.
The Express understands the facility was costing the university about $500,000 per year.
“The cost issue is there but it's not a primary driver,” Mr Creamer said.
“It’s do we actually need the building? Yes or no.”
The decision has drawn the attention of Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall who is planning to meet with university executives next week.
“When I’m back from parliament, I will be seeking a face-to-face meeting with the vice chancellor to discuss this,” he said yesterday.
“I don’t know what has triggered this decision, but let’s say it is finances, then I think ideally it would have been good to sit down and have a conversation about if there was way to overcome the financial issues.”
UNE says they are charged with the care, control, and management of the complex for both students and community use.
But Mr Creamer confirmed on Wednesday that there was no community consultation and that stakeholders were “only aware that we have been looking at the future of the building for some time”.
“We haven’t consulted with them [NECOM] on the detail but they have been aware that we have been considering the future of the building,” he said.
UNE informed conservatorium board chairman Greg Moin yesterday.
“We are awaiting formal details from UNE,” Mr Moin said.
“We are relying on the goodwill we have with UNE to ensure that the representations made to me are fulfilled.”
The state’s Department of Industry – Lands, who own the building, also said they had received no formal notification.
“There has been no formal advice from UNE to advise it is withdrawing from the role of Trust Manager,” an industry spokeswoman said Yesterday.
The university has acted as the corporate trust manager of the CB Newling building since 1995.
They undertake the role on a voluntary basis and are under no obligation to continue as manager.
Crown Lands has already held informal discussions with Armidale Regional Council to take over.
Council’s administrator Ian Tiley said Council would only become managers if they could find a way to make it cost neutral.
“We would need to do a business plan first before making a decision,” he said.
It would depend on it breaking-even Dr Tiley said.
Dr Tiley also said if the university had informed Council they intended to quit the building six months ago, he would have considered relocating the library there.
Mr Marshall said it was important to keep the building in public hands.
“I think the community would want to keep it in public hands and I think that's appropriate,” he said.
“However, old buildings do come with a cost.”
