In the mid-1990s The Daily Advertiser initially raised the matter of an engineering course at CSU. One of the reasons was the increasingly difficulty that many businesses and institutions, not the least of which were local shire councils, had in recruiting qualified engineers.

It was advocated then and has subsequently proved correct in such courses as pharmacy, veterinary science, business studies and agricultural science, that graduates trained in the region are more than likely to seek positions – even begin businesses – within the regional areas.

Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, has expressed disappointment with this week's decision in favour of Bathurst and he should have lots of supporters.

The reasons offered by CSU's authorities for the selection process don't add up.

The university's decision to pour the engineering course funds into Bathurst campus "to ensure the course was delivered to a premium standard" suggests Wagga campus is of inferior quality.

That, as we all know, is not the case. For a start, graduates from Wagga campus are highly sort after for work placement.

It needs to be said that engineering is one of the most expensive courses to establish, perhaps one of the reasons why it has taken so long to establish one in regional Australia.

That does not, however, hide the disappointment that the biggest inland city in NSW was by-passed. It is accepted that the course – initially involving 50 students – could not viably be split between the two campuses.

At the time engineering was initially proposed as an additional course at Wagga campus the RAAF's technical training asset at Forest Hill was considered to be in the city's favour; possibly even a future source of students.

The failure to convince CSU of Wagga's worth as the engineering venue will underscore the need for the city's authorities to take nothing for granted to ensure the Wagga campus maintains an expansive and diverse range of subjects.