Building a future of education in Tamworth is getting closer, as demolition works commence at the former velodrome site to make way for the new University of New England (UNE) Tamworth Campus.
Council has begun demolishing the site having removed the existing track barrier and over the next eight weeks will see the pedestrian access and concrete track surface removed. Following this, bulk earthworks will be made in order to regrade the site for the future UNE development.
UNE Vice Chancellor Professor Chris Moran says "I am grateful for Council's contribution to this important project for the city of Tamworth, which is the land upon which we will build our Campus, and the remediation of the site to prepare it for development. I am looking forward to welcoming our students into this signature building".
The campus will be situated on the corner of Peel and Roderick Streets with the building to have spaces flexible to adapting as Tamworth grows, and equipped and ready for higher education learning.
Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb says "This will be a huge boost for Tamworth to be able to provide higher education opportunities. It will undoubtedly help us achieve core strategies in our Blueprint 100 plan, including creating more jobs, more skills and a more liveable community. It will enable us to retain more school leavers from the area and enhance opportunities for mature age students".
As part of the demolition works, passers-by may see the track surface demolished with an excavator fitted with a rock hammer. The smashed concrete will be taken to the Forest Road Landfill for recycling.
Once the rail around the outside of the track and the track itself has been demolished, the pedestrian access into the velodrome will be dismantled with parts of the culverts to be stored and reused in the future.
Finally, a GPS controlled bulldozer will be used to reshape the existing earth embankments so it is suitable for the future UNE site to be built.
The demolition and earth works are being undertaken as part of Council's partnership with this exciting project.
