Minister announces new TAFE horticulture centre
Friday, 12 September 2008 2:09PM
Trade training in far north Queensland will receive a boost with the announcement today of a $2.3 million horticulture training centre at Tropical North Queensland TAFE's Cairns campus.
The centre will provide state of the art facilities for local horticulture and landscaping students including apprentices, trainees, tradespeople and also international students.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the new project represented the first stage of a $29 million State Government investment in trades training in the region as part of the Queensland Skills Plan.
"The new horticulture centre will support the training of more than 200 students from the far north every year," Mr Welford said.
"It will include modern facilities and resources including an all weather landscape training area, classroom with networked computers, propagation and shade houses, and sustainability initiatives such as underground water storage and a reed bed for recycling used water.
"This is also the first step in the Queensland Government's commitment to modernise trade training at Tropical North Queensland TAFE, with stage two due to commence in 2010.
"By investing in training facilities we can ensure students have access to the most up-to-date equipment.
"This guarantees students receive industry specific training, making them more work-ready on graduation, while our local community benefits from having a highly skilled and talented workforce."
The horticulture centre will also provide a cornerstone for the growth of TAFE's new environment and sustainability training programs including conservation and land management, spatial information systems and town planning.
The centre is expected to be completed in January 2009.
August 2008