Bipartisan Support urgently needed for CQ TAFE Centre for Excellence project
Posted on September 23rd, 2024
Central Queensland stands at a crossroads, facing challenges that not only demand immediate action but importantly a united front.
Our region’s economy is the backbone of our community, and it is under extreme pressure. We need a strong, resilient economy to navigate the challenges ahead of us, from workforce shortages to the housing crisis, which threaten to undermine our future.
Across every industry, the story is the same: everyone is in desperate need for skilled workers.
From the construction workforce building our future to small businesses driving local commerce and mining companies fuelling our economy, the demand for skilled workers is overwhelming.
In the past, we had more vacancies than our homegrown skilled workforce could fill, and companies were able to attract skilled people to live and work in our community. However, with the current housing crisis, the reality is starkly different. We simply don’t have enough homes to accommodate our current population, let alone welcome new residents.
Imagine the frustration of a business leader who has finally found the perfect candidate, only to watch them leave because they can’t find a place to live. This is not just a loss for that business; it’s a loss for our entire community. Our businesses, industries and indeed, our region deserve better. We deserve the opportunity to reach our full potential.
That is why I stand firmly behind CQUniversity’s call for bipartisan support of the TAFE Centre of Excellence proposal. This isn’t just another project; it’s a lifeline for our region.
Capricorn Enterprise has been a long-term supporter of this project because it addresses at least two of crises we face – housing and workforce development.
The proposal is a straightforward, common-sense solution with the power to transform our region.
CQUniversity is seeking government funding to complete the relocation of its TAFE training facilities from the outdated Canning Street Campus to the Rockhampton North campus. This move isn’t just about providing a better learning environment for students; it’s about unlocking 27 hectares of prime land for housing, delivering an estimated 500 new homes where they are needed.
We know that when people study in the regions, they stay in the regions. This proposal is about growing our own workforce, meeting the skills needs of local industry without exacerbating the housing crisis. It’s about ensuring that our graduates are not just qualified but job-ready, equipped with the skills they need to contribute from day one on the job.
This proposal will enable the University to deliver between 300 and 500 more skilled workers every year, trained on modern infrastructure that matches the equipment on job sites, workshop floors, and in shops.
Since 2016, CQU has been gradually transitioning its TAFE training facilities from the city to the North, but the job isn’t done.
Now is the time to finish what has been started and for all sides of politics to commit, because no matter who wins at the Queensland election next month, we don’t want to see Central Queensland lose. The stakes are too high.
Our region’s future depends on proposals like these. With growth comes opportunity, and the time to act is now. The planning is complete. The business cases and masterplans are ready. All we need is the political will to turn them into reality.
Central Queensland, this is our moment. Regardless of who wins next month at the ballot box, we must demand certainty in boosting our local workforce and increasing housing.
I commend the state opposition for recognising the importance of this project, which Central Queenslanders not only deserve, but desperately need. Now it’s time for the ALP Government to match that commitment.
We cannot afford to wait. The call for a bipartisan support is clear, and we must rally behind it. For the future of our region, for the prosperity of our communities, and for the opportunities that lie ahead.
Until next time….
Mary Carroll
Chief Executive Officer
Capricorn Enterprise
