The recently vacated Bega hospital will be sold to council following more than a year of secret negotiations with health officials after expressions of interest were first sought.
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Mayor of Bega Valley Shire Michael Britten said the council was intending to take charge of the property with a view to turning it into a “regional tertiary education centre”.
“We have been in negotiation with Health Infrastructure since April last year to get control of the 4ha site, Cr Britten said.
The hospital closed its doors earlier this year when the new $187million South East Regional Hospital (SERH) opened in March and patients were transferred across to the new facility.
“We have a heads of agreement and have agreed on price and we are intending to take charge with a view to making it a regional tertiary education centre. This is about seeing what can be done for the community,” Cr Britten said.
He said that the centre could be used for both community and commercial purposes with offices as well as the education centre.
“It’s about getting the land, because you can’t do anything without that. We’re talking to Bega TAFE and Wollongong University and all tertiary organisations. We want to keep our options open.”
Asked how the existing Bega TAFE would fit into these plans, Cr Britten said TAFE was changing, with the state government looking to put more of its operations online.
Under the reforms, the government has said it will open 12 brand-new Connected Learning Centres next year, and create a new TAFE Digital Education headquarters in regional NSW.
Cr Britten said the council could end up being a partner with an educational centre.
“We’re not doing this as a money making venture. We’re creating a catalyst by providing the land,” he said.
“The idea is that we don’t simply let this go out to auction and it becomes another residential subdivision.”
The Bega District News understands that the legal process for the purchase of the hospital site has not been completed yet. However, chief executive of Southern NSW Local Health District Janet Compton said she welcomed the interest of the council in the potential purchase of the land.
Cr Britten said the details of the sale and the price paid by council were expected to be revealed next week.
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