A decision this week by the government to site the $7 million Connected Learning Centre (CLC), or digitally-enabled TAFE campus, on Port Stephens Council-owned land in Salamander Bay has angered many in the Nelson Bay business community and left the administrators of the peninsula's only adult college scratching their heads in disbelief.
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"Yet another blow to the CBD of Nelson Bay and a win for the multi national shopping centre at Salamander," lamented prominent Nelson Bay businessman and property owner Allan Cassano. "How is it that Salamander gets this development at the expense of Nelson Bay?"
Tomaree Community College chairman Warwick Mathieson said they would have welcomed discussions in regard to co-locating "but we have been left out of any negotiations".
But Tertiary Education Minister Geoff Lee has defended the decision to build the new CLC at 1 Central Avenue, Salamander Bay.
"This site is located alongside the new shopping precinct, only 2km from Nelson Bay town centre and in an area well serviced by public transport for students and staff," he said.
"A number of potential sites for the new centre were investigated by TAFE NSW, but the site in Salamander Bay stood above other options and offered an opportunity for the public training provider to establish a skills and training ecosystem for the region through its close proximity to local high schools, employers, growth industries and community amenities."
It was February this year when NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited Port Stephens to join Liberal candidate Jaimie Abbott in announcing that a newly elected government would provide Nelson Bay with a new, state-of-the-art TAFE campus.
When contacted for a comment, the Premier's office directed our inquiry to Mr Lee.
Ms Abbott, an east ward councillor, heralded this week's announcement as "a welcome investment for Port Stephens".
"Whilst it will be disappointing [that] it's not built in Nelson Bay, it will still be great for the area being located five minutes down the road in Salamander Bay," Ms Abbott said.
State MP Kate Washington, who went on to beat Ms Abbott in the fiercely contest March 2019 state election with an increased majority, has accused the government of making "election promises with absolutely no plan to deliver".
"The Premier stood in the CBD and committed to building a TAFE campus in Nelson Bay. Now it's clear we won't be getting a campus and it won't be in Nelson Bay," she said.
"Instead, decisions are being made behind closed doors without any transparency or community consultation. People were led to believe this was about delivering local pathways to jobs and revitalising Nelson Bay CBD."
Mr Cassano has questioned the process which led to Salamander Bay getting the nod ahead of its business rival Nelson Bay.
"This is a broken promise [from the Berejikilan government]. Nelson Bay has identified quite a few suitable sites, yet someone has managed to convince [the minister] to move it to Salamander."
He believed that council, being part of the location process, could raise conflict of interest issues.
When this was put to the council, a spokesperson responded with: "Council cannot comment at this time."
It is understood at least four sites in Nelson Bay were put forward to the government, including the TCC premises and the Tomaree Business Chamber's preferred option as part of a redeveloped Donald Street carpark (under demolition).
The chamber's Peter Clough said the preference was for the new learning centre to be located in Nelson Bay CBD, "but we will not object to Salamander if this is deemed as most appropriate".
Mr Mathieson said he had met with Minister Lee and Hunter MLC Taylor Martin on July 19 to discuss negotiations and made contact with Hunter TAFE to organise a meeting in regard to the new site.
He said there had been no follow up contact by the either office. A spokesperson for Mr Lee said that the college site was considered "too small".
Construction on the new Tomaree CLC is scheduled to start in mid-2020.
EARLIER STORY: The tale of the Nelson Bay TAFE