A multi-trades skills hub for Bega TAFE will be going hands-on from semester two 2021 thanks to a $17million injection confirmed by the state government this week.
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On Friday, November 8, Bega MP Andrew Constance was joined by Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee, at the Bega Connected Learning Centre to announce the start of construction of stage two of the project.
They said the new trades hub will be built adjoining the CLC, where the old red-brick community health building currently sits.
READ MORE: New-model digital TAFE centre opens in Bega
The $17m facility will allow courses including agriculture, bricklaying, carpentry, electrical and plumbing to be available to students who previously would've had to leave the region.
As for the exact make-up of what tradeskills courses would be offered "it would be based upon serving local industry needs" Mr Lee said.
Mr Lee said Bega would be the first location in NSW to have a CLC and multi-trades hub on the one site.
"And for $17million what you will get will be sensational," he said.
Construction is due to start in April 2020 and be completed within 12 months.
As previously reported, the opening of the trades hub will mean the existing TAFE campus in Barrack St will close.
When asked why the investment was being directed to building a new facility from scratch rather than investing in the existing campus, Mr Constance said "it made sense" to continue developing the education precinct in the heart of Bega and TAFE was adapting with the times, not confined to "very old" buildings.
"It's a great advantage to be right next to the high school, an advantage to promote vocational education opportunities," Mr Constance said.
"It's a brand new facility our students and teachers deserve.
"We're building on the foundation we have here, but TAFE is not just 'buildings'. There's a human element here of people getting skills, getting employment and improving their lives.
"We want these students to be inspired and continue to see the amazing outcomes Bega TAFE students are already getting."