IT’S decision time on the future of Bathurst’s historic TAFE building.
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Bathurst Regional Council will decide whether or not to accept an offer to take over the ownership of the building and its precinct in lower William Street from the State Government when council meets on Wednesday night.
If it refuses the offer, council will save ratepayers an estimated $1.697 million needed to bring the building up to basic compliance standards.
Ongoing annual costs of about $230,000 would be added to the tally if council mothballed the building.
Council general manager David Sherley has compiled an extensive report on the contentious issue and will leave it to the councillors to make the call.
The offer to take over ownership of the TAFE precinct came out of the blue when it was made in early December last year.
A March 1 deadline was set, but it came and went and council was given an extension for further investigations.
Working parties were held in April and May.
According to Mr Sherley’s report, the former TAFE site has an area of 6033 square metres and includes the area used to house the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum.
“If the council accepts the current offer the museum and its curtilage will be included as part of the gift,” his report states.
“The land is located in the core of the CBD, with frontage to William Street, and is situated in the block bounded by William, Howick, George and Church Streets.
“It forms part of the land which is formally known as the Bathurst Town Square and hence is significant from a heritage perspective. This should be taken into account in any redevelopment of the site.”
Mr Sherley has also outlined several options that could be explored for the development of the site: restoring the building to a usable condition and then leasing it to community groups at a
peppercorn (a low or nominal) rent; disposing of the building by sale; granting the building to a developer for redevelopment for a defined period of time; calling for expressions of interest for the sale of the site and its redevelopment; and a public/private partnership.
Mr Sherley also noted that if the offer was rejected, council would then have to renegotiate its lease for the fossil museum with the State Government.
In conclusion, he has presented two options for council to consider.
Reject the State Government’s offer, and begin negotiations immediately in respect of the future of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum on the site.
Accept the offer that the land be vested in Bathurst Regional Council as Torrens Title land, and that the land be unencumbered.
“Following council’s decision, further reports will be submitted to council for its deliberation, on the future direction of the site,” his report said.
