UCOL signs historic deal for campus | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

The old Whanganui UCOL campus has been granted a new lease on life.

In a potential first for Wanganui, the Universal College Of Learning (UCOL) has managed to negotiate with the Crown to allow a licence to occupy to be granted for the old Campbell St campus while it is in the process of being land-banked.

An agreement between UCOL and the Tupoho Whanau Trust, which currently leases the Rangahaua complex on the 4.2ha campus, was signed last week.

The campus will now be known as the Tupoho Community Complex.

The trust has been in ongoing negotiations with UCOL since 2008.

The trust's previous attempts to buy the old campus were frustrated by the Crown disposal process, which will eventually see the campus land-banked for future treaty settlements.

The campus, of which 7700sq m is covered by 30 assorted buildings, is under long-term lease by UCOL, who until now have been responsible for its maintenance.

Part of the new agreement is that the trust will take on maintenance of the site.

UCOL campus redevelopment project director Jule Einhorn said UCOL was acting as an agent for the Crown as it went through the disposal process.

Often the land banking process took years, especially in cases like the old campus, which was a large piece of land, she said.

UCOL was still in the middle of researching to offer the land back to its previous owners.

Ms Einhorn said she believed recent publicity over the amount of properties that had been left empty and degrading while they were going through the land banking process had helped in reaching an agreement with the Crown.

Normally when a property was going through land-banking there was no chance to offer it to anyone, she said.

It was easier for properties to remain empty because of the uncertainty around the length of time the process would take, or when previous owners of the land might choose to purchase it back, as was their right.

Ms Einhorn said all parties were aware of the uncertainties and possibilities that may arise in the future, and they had been incorporated into their agreement.

"Everyone is aware of the situation with the statutory procedures, and we both acknowledge that we need to make way for the requirements as they come along."

Tupoho Whanau Trust chairman Ken Mair described the agreement with UCOL as an "important step for Tupoho Whanau Trust to have some control over the future of the site".

"It is important to us that the site is available to the community to make use of the facilities rather than watching an empty site lose its strength and soul. Even if the site is well maintained, being empty, inevitably a place appears run down."

Mr Mair said they had seen too many properties left to decay while settlement claims were resolved, and the trust was "very excited" to have the opportunity to "bring life" to the campus.

Plans for the site were still under development, but it would have a community focus.

Existing tenants would remain on the site and arrangements for all aspects of the property's maintenance would be handed to Tupoho Whanau Trust over the next few weeks.

UCOL chief executive Paul McElroy said the license agreement reinforced UCOL's commitment to and support for Whanganui iwi and their community and education work.

"We have a long-term relationship with Tupoho Whanau Trust in their work on the Campbell St campus as a private training establishment and as part of Whanganui iwi.

"This is a very exciting moment for us, to think that the site will be given a fresh focus and bring new vitality to the community."

DISPOSAL PROCESS

Disposal process: Is lengthy, requiring Crown approvals every step of the way.

Previous owners of properties are offered the chance to re-purchase them.

If they do not, Maori are asked whether they should be land-banked for future Treaty settlement.