Investment delivers major boost to trade training, health and housing for Rockhampton
- LNP to invest in a new state-of-the-art TAFE precinct in Rockhampton to put more tradies on tools.
- Rockhampton Hospital will benefit from expanded facilities, taking over the existing TAFE site on Canning Street which will be relocated to the new Excellence Precinct.
- 27 hectares of land will be unlocked for housing on land surplus to Central Queensland University, providing land for more than 200 additional homes.
The LNP has announced a major investment in TAFE training to address Queensland’s critical skilled workers shortage and put more tradies on tools.
The $61.1 million investment into a new state-of-the-art TAFE Excellence Precinct will also deliver expanded hospital support facilities and land to ease the Housing Crisis in Rockhampton.
If elected in October, the LNP will partner with CQ University to develop a new $61.1m TAFE Precinct of Excellence at their North Rockhampton Campus, turbocharging Queensland’s tradie workforce.
The TAFE Excellence Precinct will include a trades training centre, a horticultural centre as well as training facilities for metal fabrication, air-conditioning, refrigeration hospitality, IT, visual arts, hairdressing and beauty.
The state-of-the-art training precinct in North Rockhampton will relocate the existing Canning Street TAFE campus to the new Excellence Centre, and the LNP will use the site to deliver expanded support facilities for the Rockhampton Base Hospital.
The deal will also secure 27 hectares of surplus land from the university, which the LNP will prioritise for housing, as part of its plan for one million homes by 2044.
Shadow Minister for State Development Jarrod Bleijie said the investment would help address both the health and housing crises, as well as delivering a plan to secure the skilled workers needed for Queensland’s future.
“The LNP will deliver easier access to health services, more housing and more tradies with this $61 million investment in Rockhampton’s future,” Mr Bleijie said.
“Rockhampton has been crippled by a lack of housing, a lack of skilled workers and a hospital crumbling under Labor’s failure to resource and run it.
“Queenslanders want change and the LNP has the Right Plan to deliver it.”
Shadow Minister for Employment and Training Brent Mickelberg said the LNP would put more tradies on tools with its investment into the TAFE Excellence precinct.
“The LNP’s investment will deliver a state-of-the-art campus to train the tradies needed for Queensland’s future, in mining, major construction and housing,” Mr Mickelberg said.
“We need more tradies on tools to build the homes and power the industries for Queensland’s future.
“This will open the door to more young tradies to start their career and be a clear pathway to securing critical industries right across our State.”
Vice Chancellor and President of CQ University Nick Klomp welcomed the announcement, which the University has been campaigning on for a number of years.
“This allows us to improve facilities, grow the TAFE offering to Queenslanders and add capacity,” Vice Chancellor Klomp said.
“This investment will deliver hundreds more TAFE graduates to support the construction industry which is so desperately needed in this region and across the State.
“We’re pleased this will not only help us deliver better trade training, but also support the Rockhampton community by freeing up space for additional health facilities and land for housing.”
LNP candidate for Keppel, Nigel Hutton, said the commitment was a win-win, delivering both a boost to skilled trade workers and critical housing for the region.
“Our region is not only crying out for new housing, in the middle of a Housing Crisis, we need the tradies to build the homes for our future after Labor’s lost generation of tradies.
“The LNP has the Right Plan to put more tradies on tools in our region, to secure our construction, housing and resource industries for the future.”
LNP Candidate for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the LNP’s investment would deliver easier access to health services.
“Delivering easier access to health services for Rockhampton community is a priority for the LNP government and our investment will deliver additional facilities for this under-resourced and under-pressure hospital,” Ms Kirkland said.
“Rockhampton is ground zero for the Queensland Health Crisis and deserves better than the 48.6% ambulance ramping rate.
“Only the LNP has the Right Plan for Rockhampton’s Future, including easier access to health services.”
LNP Candidate for Mirani Glen Kelly said this was a great outcome for people in Central Queensland.
"This investment in our region means more young people will be able to train and study locally,” Mr Kelly said.
“We know that when young Queenslanders don't have to move to study, they are more likely to stay in the region and use their new skills in our communities."