Tamworth UNE fully-fledged campus still the end goal: Tamworth mayor

Tamworth mayor Col Murray said UNE was the "logical choice" for Tamworth but wouldn't make a pre-emptive judgment on the hub model until he'd seen the university's business case.

"From my point of view, I see the hubs as more of an add-on thing to consider in conjunction with a campus," Cr Murray said.

UNE has said that, given the current federal funding freeze on government-funded university places, it wouldn't make "economic sense" to build a campus it couldn't fill.

A full-blown campus in Tamworth remains its long-term goal but, for now, it is investigating a hub model that would offer degree in specialised fields.

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"I haven't had a deep dive into it yet and I think UNE are still developing their thinking," Cr Murray said.

"They've committed to come back to us in February or March with a business case. It'll be up to the council and the business community to consider it from there.

"If what they present is workable for council and the business community, that's great. If it's not, well, time will tell."

Tamworth University Reference Group chairman Mitch Hanlon said that, on their own, the hubs "wouldn't fly".

"If you try that in Tamworth, the city won't accept it," Mr Hanlon said.

"If it's part of a bigger vision, and they explain that, people will be more open to it.

"I'm happy for a staged approach if we end up where we want, which is a fully functioning university campus in the middle of town with a range of courses."

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Mr Hanlon said his group also wanted to engage more with UNE.

"We're willing to sit down and hear UNE's problems, so it can help be part of the solution," Mr Hanlon said.

"If they've got issues with funding caps, a bunch of angry business people showing up on the doorstep of Canberra politicians might have more of an impact from a lobbying point of view."

The specialised fields UNE is considering for the hubs in Tamworth would complement the city's industries, including music technology, food processing technology and medical technology.