Site finalised for new $37.5m Townsville trades training centre

The State Government has finalised the site for a new $37.5 million purpose-built trades training centre in Townsville to help address skill shortages in crucial industries.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford, in Townsville today to launch the Queensland Skills Plan 2008, said the Townsville Trade Training Centre would be built as part of SkillsTech Australia – the state’s lead TAFE institute in trade and technical training.

“The centre will be responsible for automotive, building and construction, manufacturing, engineering, electrical, electronics and sustainable technologies trade training,” Mr Welford said.

“It will be located at 764 Ingham Road, Bohle and staged construction will see the buildings progressively completed from the end of 2009 to mid 2010.

“It’s a key component of our Skills Plan, which has a large capital works program to modernise TAFE infrastructure and establish trade training centres at four sites across Queensland, including the regional centres of Mackay and Townsville.”

Member for Mundingburra, Lindy Nelson-Carr, said the state-of-the-art Townsville centre would maximise the use of facilities to address skilling needs in the region.

“The Townsville facility will incorporate modular and flexible work areas which will allow the space to be used for multiple inter-changeable purposes,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“It will also help to meet our Government’s commitment to progressively increase trades training places by 17,000 under the Queensland Skills Plan.

“Australia has a tight labour market, particularly for skilled occupations such as trade and technician areas, and this has been affecting the national economy for some years.

“The effect of the skills shortages is even more keenly felt in Queensland, however, where the situation is exacerbated by the resource boom.

“Since the Queensland Skills Plan was introduced in 2006, we have made significant progress to train more workers for trade and associate professional occupations and develop a training system more responsive to industry.

“Our new Townsville Trade Training Centre will go a long way to continuing to meet the needs for skilled workers across the State.”

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 0419 734 985