New ag facility ‘game changer’
Construction starts on ‘game changing’ agriculture facility
THE Toowoomba TAFE campus is set to become home to a new “game changing” agriculture educational facility.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the $7 million facility yesterday.
“The development of the new Rural Centre of Excellence will help deliver high-quality training to ensure the rural industry’s workforce is equipped with a broad set of up-to-date skills,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
CONSTRUCTION has begun on a new state-of-the-art agriculture training facility at the Toowoomba TAFE campus.
The Rural Centre of Excellence is part of a $7 million redevelopment of the campus, which includes an upgrade to healthcare facilities.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the redevelopment meant the campus could accommodate 400 more students each year.
“The development of the new Rural Centre of Excellence will help deliver highquality training to ensure the rural industry’s workforce is equipped with a broad set of up-to-date skills,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Training Minister Shannon Fentiman said the facility would be a “game changer”.
“Twenty per cent of business (in this region) are agricultural,” she said.
“This learning centre will give young people the skills they need for the jobs of the future in agriculture. It will incorporate the very best in agritechnology, including drones.”
Courses at the centre will range from certificate one to diplomas, and will include training in modern primary industry technologies such as high-yield urban farming containers, smart bots and drone use for land use and mapping.
TAFE Toowoomba acting general manager Jenni Butler said the centre would meet a strong demand in the sector.
“Mid next year is when we hope to have it open,” she said.