Lift-off for Gladstone School of Advanced Manufacturing

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has helped turn the sod on CQUniversity’s $13.5 million School of Advanced Manufacturing building at the Gladstone Marina campus. The Commonwealth Government-funded project seeks to turbocharge advanced manufacturing capability in the region and will be complemented by a School of Mining at CQUniversity’s Rockhampton North campus, with work set to commence on that site in the coming weeks. Both the Gladstone and Rockhampton facilities will be constructed by FDC Construction and Fitout. Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd said the construction of both schools would provide a major economic boost to the region, with hundreds of jobs to be created during the construction of both projects. “Construction of the CQUniversity Schools of Mining and Advanced Manufacturing will create an estimated 311 local jobs in Central Queensland, including 114 in Gladstone, and inject millions of dollars into the local economy,” Mr O’Dowd said. “Manufacturing supports thousands of jobs in the region and in the longer term, this new facility in Gladstone will further support Queenslanders to get an education that leads to a career in the manufacturing industry. “This is a major win for Gladstone, Rockhampton and the broader Central Queensland region, with both Schools to deliver world class facilities, resources, and technology to support the education of the workforces of tomorrow.” CQUniversity vice-chancellor and president Nick Klomp said the university was committed to the continued development of its regional campuses, and further investing in the new Schools of Mining and Advanced Manufacturing, to benefit the communities that rely on these industries. “Mining remains a critical industry for Central Queensland, while advanced manufacturing is a clear growth opportunity for the region’s future, with Gladstone positioned front and centre to take advantage of this," Professor Klomp said. “Establishing the School of Manufacturing in Gladstone will allow CQUniversity to develop the region’s future manufacturing workforce, enhance our manufacturing research expertise, and support the manufacturing sector as it primes for future growth. “By developing this facility, we are actively building our capacity to service industry, locally, in areas such as advanced instrumentation and process manufacturing training, advanced welding and manufacturing, and the emerging hydrogen industry." In total the Government has committed $30 million towards construction of both schools, with CQUniversity to contribute an additional $7 million. The Gladstone School of Advanced Manufacturing is expected to be completed and operational by February 2022.

Lift-off for Gladstone School of Advanced Manufacturing

Industry Queensland

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