News Release:
UNE goes to public tender for land sale
| Date 8/1/04 No 002/04 The Executive Director (Business and Administration) of the University of New England, Mr Graeme Dennehy, said today that the University was proceeding with plans to sell land at its CB Newling Taylor Street site by public tender. "We are obliged to go to public tender, under our responsibilities as Trust Managers of the land, because of the number of expressions of interest we have received," Mr Dennehy explained. The University initiated plans for the tender process late last year, after it had to cancel a contract for the sale of the land to the Oriental Education Group (OEG). OEG, which has plans to build a school for overseas students on the site, had been unable to secure the necessary deposit within the agreed contractual time. Mr Dennehy pointed out that, although the deposit required by the contract had since become available to OEG, it was only after the contract had been formally cancelled.
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"This availability of the deposit is, however, a positive development," Mr Dennehy said, "and we're inviting OEG to participate in the tender process." Under a management plan approved by the NSW Government in 1998, UNE is selling the Taylor Street land to generate funds to refurbish its CB Newling Building (the Old Teachers' College). "This refurbishment will provide a cultural and educational centre for the Armidale community," Mr Dennehy said. "Our main consideration in reviewing the tenders will be to ensure an outcome that will deliver maximum benefit to the community." The closing date for tenders is 20 February 2004. Media contact: Graeme Dennehy, Executive Director (Business and Administration), UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 3895 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE, Armidale (02) 6773 3049. |
