Budget brings CQUniversity TAFE Centre of Excellence a step closer
Construction of CQUniversity's Central Queensland TAFE Centre of Excellence is a step closer' with confirmation received in this week's Queensland State Budget of $8 million for Stage 1 of the project.
CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President' Professor Nick Klomp' said this latest commitment from the Queensland Government meant building work on the state-of-the-art $49.8 million facility could now get started.
"I'm thrilled to see this latest funding commitment from the Palaszczuk Government' as it means we get can started on the much-need TAFE Centre of Excellence facility in earnest'"
Professor Klomp said.
"As the only university in Queensland to offer all levels of tertiary study from Certificate I to PhD' it makes sense for our VET training to be consolidated and co-located on our North Rockhampton campus.
"Not only is it essential to reduce the cost of operating two campuses in the one city' but it also provides an opportunity to upgrade outdate TAFE infrastructure and deliver a contemporary' state-of-the-art facility.
"Stage 1 of the project will include bespoke carpentry and plumbing facilities and I'm excited for our apprentices to start using these facilities as soon as they're up and running'"
Professor Klomp said.
More than 300 new jobs will be immediately created when Stage 1 construction begins.
Stage 2 of the project has a price tag of $42 million and will complete the Central Queensland TAFE Centre of Excellence. This will see all of CQUniversity's TAFE and higher education facilities co-located on the Rockhampton North campus.
"The fully realised Centre of Excellence will have the capacity to train an additional 1'100 apprentices and VET students each year by 2025' growing to an additional 2'500 each year by 2030. It will create an estimated 300 long-term jobs thanks to expanded university operations'"
Professor Klomp said.
Vacating the Canning Street TAFE site also potentially frees it up for valuable' alternative community uses.
Professor Klomp said the project was part of a larger' strategic alignment of training and skills on the Rockhampton North campus' including specialist trades' technology' manufacturing and innovation projects.
"The Central Queensland TAFE Centre of Excellence will form a key part of our technology' trades' and innovation precinct' representing well over $70 million in new training and research facilities on the CQUniversity Rockhampton North campus'"
Professor Klomp said.
"These include the Rockhampton Manufacturing Hub' the Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre and the Central Queensland School of Mining and Manufacturing."
The Federal Government committed $30 million to establish the Central Queensland School of Mining and Manufacturing in Rockhampton and Gladstone' with the $23.5 million CQUniversity School of Mining now under construction on the Rockhampton North campus.
The CQUniversity School of Mining includes training in heavy auto trades' particularly relevant to the resources sector.
CQUniversity continues to seek a funding commitment for Stage 2 of the project.
