Friday, March 29, 2024

Telford decision due as Hewett attacks

Neal Wallace
A decision on the future of the Telford agricultural training farm in south Otago is imminent with Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre and Invercargill’s Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) taking over the delivery of education from Lincoln University.
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It was understood the new education providers were likely to be in place as early as next semester, ending several months of uncertainty that angered south Otago community leaders.

But sources have also said that under the new providers, Telford would be smaller and with fewer staff.

Clutha Development chairman Rob Hewett said the handling of Telford’s future and communication had been poor and adversely affected staff, the Clutha community, farmers and students.

He had employed two Telford graduates and rated them highly, saying that having students with levels three and four qualifications filled an important employment need on farms.

The campus was also a significant employer of up to 60 staff and generated business in south Otago that the community wanted to protect.

He was also scathing that Lincoln accessed $10 million in cash reserves held by Telford when it took over, especially when the university had its own cash reserves.

“Taking that money out of Telford to prop up Lincoln was morally wrong,” Hewett said.

Asked what structure he would like to see for Telford, Hewett said the communication vacuum made it impossible to know what was possible.

In November 17 staff were made redundant at Telford and 34 at Lincoln.

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