News Release:
University accepts highest tender on Newling campus sale
| 4/3/04 041/04 The University of New England has announced land at its CB Newling Taylor Street site has been sold to a Port Macquarie-based firm. Eladale (NSW) Pty Ltd was the highest conforming tender. "Its figure exceeded our expectations," UNE's Executive Director (Business and Administration), Graeme Dennehy, said today. Mr Dennehy said: "This is great news for Armidale and will result in substantial benefits to the community. "Funding from [the sale of] this property will provide us with the opportunity to more substantially maintain and enhance the C.B. Newling building and its surrounds, making it more accessible, functional and attractive to the Armidale community." Mr Dennehy said a portion of the funds from the sale would also be made available to the Armidale Showground Trust, to improve facilities there.
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One of the shareholders of Eladale Pty Ltd is Mr Alan Chappell, owner of Chappells Nursery and Garden Centre in Marsh St, Armidale. Another Eladale shareholder, Mr Grant McKeand, said the company was "looking forward to joining with the local community and Armidale Council in developing the site and is considering a range of options. "The ideas which Eladale is pursuing at the moment will greatly benefit the community, since we are looking at developing the site for a social use." The tender process closed on February 20, when a total 11 bids on the property were received. "The level of interest in the sale of this property is a further good sign for the Armidale community," Mr Dennehy said. Media contact: Graeme Dennehy, (02) 6773 3897 or Lydia Clifford, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 2779. |
