Polytech looking to drop suburban Cromwell campus

Otago Polytechnic is closing and proposing to sell its campus and student accommodation in central Cromwell, however its newer base on Bannockburn Road will stay.

The polytechnic set up shop in Cromwell in 1987 as a response to high demand for education in relation to the Clyde Dam being built, but now says the campus is an "under-utilised asset".

A spokesperson says the student numbers "don't support the physical footprint".

Otago Polytechnic is focusing its footprint on its Bannockburn Road campus and departing central Cromwell.

Details of next steps are yet unknown, as the polytechnic works through a process with stakeholders.

Selling the assets is on the cards, but it is still early days.

"We don’t have definite dates for site listings, and we don’t expect this to be a quick turnaround," the spokesperson says.

Occupancy of the on-site accommodation has been dropping over the last few years.

"In addition, the ever-increasing pastoral care code requirements mean that the kind of support we will be needing to offer has vastly changed since we first started providing accommodation."

There will be no spaces for any new residents from the start of next year, although it is understood some classes may continue to be held at the site in the interim.

The polytechnic has committed to supporting students living there to find alternative accommodation and will honour any existing agreements.

It expects impact on students to be minimal.

It is not clear what impact the closure may have on study options in the town, with the spokesperson saying the polytechnic will be reviewing its "programme offerings to see where their delivery best fits". 

Otago Polytechnic's campus on Bannockburn Road in Cromwell remains operational.

In Cromwell, courses offered by the polytechnic reflect the industry of the area, with study options in brewing, beekeeping, bike mechanics, farming, horticulture, winemaking, stonemasonry and carpentry in the mix.

The polytechnic also has a regional campus in Wānaka offering students study options in outdoor adventure, snow sports, avalanche safety and midwifery.

Main image: Days may be numbered for Otago Polytechnic's central Cromwell campus, which officially opened in 1987.