Work to demolish the asbestos-riddled Hunter Building at the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus is now scheduled to occur next year, four years after the building was vacated.
The building, which takes up a large chunk of land on the eastern side of the campus, is among a number of ageing properties that the university is presiding over.
The university has previously outlined plans to redevelop the campus with a motel, hospital, medical centre and school.
"When you come to Callaghan in 10-15 years time it'll have all the elements of a town inside it because it's 140 hectares," Vice chancellor Alex Zelinsky said in 2022.
But factors, including the institution's tenuous financial position, have meant that progress has been slow going.
Chief Operating Officer David Toll said the university was committed to providing facilities that give staff and students the best possible learning and teaching environment in a safe and contemporary setting.
"That is why investing in the future of our infrastructure is a strategic decision made through careful planning that balances the assessment of our current estate and the need for modern facilities to activate our campuses and create a vibrant place for our students and staff to thrive," he said.
"As part of our investment and planning of the future of our infrastructure assets, we consider many factors before adding to our demolition program for assessment and consideration. "These factors can include the general safety, functionality, and age of the building, the services within it, and whether the building is viable for upgrading or repurposing."
The university has rejected speculation that the original student accommodation buildings located on land adjacent to University Drive are earmarked for redevelopment.
Two buildings - the art building and the sculpture workshop - on the Callaghan campus have been demolished over the past 18 months.
The Hunter Building was constructed in the early 1970s as part of the former teachers college.
Concerns about the building's structural integrity emerged following the 1989 earthquake.
These were compounded by the presence of asbestos.
A further feasibility study concluded that the time and cost required to upgrade the building's features was prohibitive due to the building fabric and age.
The building, which was vacated in 2021, has now been decanted and awaits demolition.
The university has added new buildings to its campuses in recent years including the NUspace and Q buildings as part of the Newcastle City Campus and the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute in Gosford.
Its next significant infrastructure milestone will be the lodgement of a State Significant Development Application for the proposed student accommodation building in Newcastle.
"This will bring us one step closer to making our vision of providing more accommodation options in the city for new and existing students a reality," Mr Toll said.
