THE Mount Alexander Shire is close to locking in a permanent lease arrangement for one of Castlemaine's last remaining tertiary providers.
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Shire officers have urged councillors to approve long-term leasing arrangements for Bendigo TAFE's Templeton Street premises on Tuesday.
They say it will help retrain people made redundant during the pandemic and avoid any financial risks to the council, which can currently lose its tenant with only a month's notice.
"If training and support is not readily available in Mount Alexander these people could be particularly disadvantaged," officers said in a report published online on Friday.
TAFE and Castlemaine Community House have been the only tertiary education providers in town since the closure of Castlemaine Continuing Education in 2018.
A long-term leasing contract could also help Bendigo TAFE run expanded programs in Castlemaine.
Shire officers have warned that the TAFE could look to other buildings if councillors do not sign off on arrangements.
If [TAFE vacates] the premises, it is likely that there will be a period of no financial return to council until the property can be re-leased to another commercial tenant, or alternatively to a community group at a community rate," they said.
The community rate would be lower than the council could secure from a commercial group.
"Council officers are periodically approached by community groups who are looking for low-cost space to occupy, but at this time there have not been any approaches by other potential commercial tenants for this building," officers said.
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