After sitting idle for almost 10 years the future of the Tewantin TAFE remains embroiled in negotiations while its exterior becomes degraded by graffiti and the buildings deteriorate.
However, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said people would be excited to see its future plans once they could be disclosed.
The former TAFE site continues to be owned and managed by the Queensland Government under the control of the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training (DYJESBT).
The Tewantin TAFE campus was constructed in 2004 by the Queensland Government, opened in 2006 with 716 students and shut in 2014 with 256 students, many studying off-campus.
Since 2014 it has mostly sat idle and been subject to vandalism and building deterioration.
Due to the work of Ms Bolton, council was provided with first option to purchase the site.
A flora and fauna assessment of the site commissioned by council identified suitable habitat for threatened species, including koala, glossy black cockatoo, vulnerable wallum frogs and endangered swamp crayfish.
Under the New Noosa Plan and State Koala Conservation Plan the site was identified as an area of biodiversity significance and a koala priority area, limiting future development to the existing cleared footprint of the former TAFE campus.
In 2018 council formally offered to purchase the site from the state for $1.7m with funds to be sourced from the Environment Levy and general cash reserves. The state disclosed that Native Title still applied to the site requiring the state to enter into an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the traditional owners, the Kabi Kabi people prior to the purchase proceeding.
A DYJESBT spokesperson said council withdrew its purchase offer in mid-2020 due to financial impacts of Covid-19.
The spokesperson said in 2021, following council’s withdrawal, the department undertook an Expression of Interest process for proposals to reactivate the site.
“Consultation was undertaken with key community leaders and groups to guide the selection of the most suitable proponent which had the strongest alignment with community expectations, and negotiations with a preferred proponent are well advanced,“ the spokesperson said.
“The Queensland Government and DYJESBT respect the legal Native Title process that is well underway for this area, and as such any negotiations regarding the Tewantin TAFE site must take that process into account.
“We recognise the site’s value to the Traditional Owners and the local Tewantin community, and the opportunities it offers, which is why we are actively working to ensure a positive outcome for all.
“At the conclusion of these negotiations, the Expression of Interest process regarding reactivating the site for the benefit of the region will continue.“
Ms Bolton said the community and successful proponents had displayed great patience over this very frustrating time.
“Although we are still unable to disclose further details, we are confident everyone will be excited to see their restoration plans for the site, and once we have permission to share these, we will do so as soon as possible.” she said.
Ms Bolton said any damages to the site should be reported to Policelink.
