Plans to transform the former Tewantin TAFE campus into a creative hub featuring a School of Design have been abandoned, with the long-vacant site now proposed for independent seniors’ living after years of vandalism and deterioration.
Independent Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton confirmed a new assessment by NRA Collaborative found the former Tewantin TAFE buildings are no longer suitable for refurbishment, ending hopes of a creative reuse of the site.
The campus closed in 2014, triggering community backlash and years of advocacy to keep the site in public use. In 2021, the state government launched an Expression of Interest process, later selecting NRA Collaborative as the preferred proponent. By late 2024, plans were unveiled for a creative precinct featuring a school of design, theatre and creative spaces.
However, after the site was formally transferred to NRA Collaborative in April 2025, further assessments revealed extensive damage.
While disappointed, Sandy said the outcome was not a surprise. “This is a result and reminder of the impacts of poor government decisions, processes that take far too long, and unacceptable behaviour of those who over the past decade have vandalised the site,” she said.
“Our community will never forget the day it closed, nor the frustrating journey to try to save it, and the millions of taxpayer dollars invested in developing the site in 2004. This, along with many other TAFE facilities that closed under similar circumstances, is the ultimate example of a broken system. Neither my anger nor my determination to see those systems fixed has abated.”
Following her election in 2017, Sandy advocated for the site to be retained for community use. In 2020, the land was offered to Noosa Council, which declined due to the expected timeframes and high restoration costs.
Sandy said she recently met with NRA Collaborative representative Andrew St Baker onsite, where the alternative proposal of independent seniors’ living was outlined. While “heartbroken”, she said it was time to move forward, noting the proposal could allow long-term residents to downsize and remain in the community.
She said she will continue to keep the community informed as the proposal progresses.