Construction Starts On New HV Training Facility In Mackay

Construction is under way on a new $7.5 million heavy automotive training facility in Mackay which is set to be fully operational by term two of 2024

Construction has commenced on a multi-million-dollar specialist training facility for heavy automotive trades at the CQUniversity Ooralea campus in Mackay in Central Queensland.

The slab for the $7.5 million facility, which will sit adjacent to, and complement, existing trade training facilities at the university, has now been poured, with site completion slated for March 2024.

Queensland-based builder WHF Group will lead the construction of the project and it is estimated that up to 50 jobs will be created during construction.

The specialist training facility for heavy automotive trades is expected to be operational by term two in 2024.

The 1,610-square-metre site will include workshop space, teaching areas, staff spaces and specialist equipment including an air brake simulator, hydraulic training stations, transmission training simulators, diesel engine benches, and an air suspension training stand for trucks.

The facility will also enable the university to almost triple its student capacity in the trade discipline from 140 to more than 400 students.

CQUniversity will deliver heavy automotive trade courses including Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Diesel Fitting), Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology, and Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology, in full within the Mackay region.

Once the upgrade is completed, final-year apprentices will no longer have to travel for up to four hours to Rockhampton or Emerald to complete required training blocks, saving them time and money.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer says commencement of construction on the Mackay facility follows hot on the heels of the start of works on a $10.2 million trade training-focused TAFE Centre of Excellence at the CQUniversity North Rockhampton campus.

“The new facility will contribute to the regional economy and allow the public training provider, CQU, to continue changing lives and supporting communities and industry through skills-based training,” she says.

“By boosting training capacity, the redeveloped trade training centre will supply a pipeline of qualified heavy automotive professionals, crucial to keeping the region’s industries running.”

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert says the Macky region has experienced average year-on-year student growth of 15 per cent in the heavy automotive discipline over the past five years.

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