Shellharbour MP Anna Watson this week claimed the ailing campus, which has resembled a ghost town for almost a year, would close on January 22.

The closure comes after the Mercury revealed in March classes at Dapto TAFE had ceased and students had been told to study elsewhere.

On Monday, a TAFE insider reportedly told Ms Watson a decision to close the doors had been made and a new shopfront would open in the Dapto CBD. 

“This is yet another example of the state government wasting money on leasing new commercial facilities while it has an empty campus standing at the ready to do its job just metres away,” Ms Watson said.

“It’s gutted a perfectly good campus, which just five years ago was a bustling place of learning with nearly 700 students and 111 teaching staff.” 

Mercury readers were quick to express their anger online.

“What a brilliant idea, mining and manufacturing are all leaving the Illawarra, and instead of putting more money into training and support … we close one of the best adult education centres around,” Michael Jones wrote on the Mercury website. “No wonder the Illawarra is dead and dying, Crown isn't the only street with no hope.” Another online commenter, using the name Grannie Annie, called for a sit-in to be held.

“There must be hundreds, if not thousands of young people going to be deprived of an afordable [sic] tertiary education once the TAFE is sold off. Do we sit back and let it happen, or do we put up a fight?” they wrote.

A spokeswoman for TAFE Illawarra said non-TAFE staff currently at the Dapto campus would relocate on January 22. “TAFE NSW is committed to providing the best localised and responsive forms of delivery in the Illawarra to suit new and emerging customer requirements,” she said.

“TAFE NSW is open for business and is accepting enrolments.” Minister for Skills John Barilaro’s office was contacted for comment.