Federation TAFE funding a win for local collaboration

Tuesday 01 May 2018

The Wellington community has reason to celebrate with the State Government allocating $25 million in the State Budget for the new Federation Training campus at the Port of Sale.

Council has lobbied consistently for the new campus and has for some years worked with local business, industry and community members to ensure the need for the new TAFE was not forgotten.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Carolyn Crossley said locals never lost sight of their need for further education opportunities in Sale.

“If we are to keep our young people in Wellington, we need to provide further education opportunities,” she said.

“Local industry has told us time and again of the struggle they have with accessing further training for their staff, with many having to send their young apprentices and other employees to Melbourne.

“It is clear that if we can provide this training locally it will be of benefit to local business, students, families and also the local economy.

“This announcement today is a win for our local community.”

Cr Crossley said Wellington residents would be pleased to see the former netball court site on the South Gippsland Highway redeveloped, as it had become an eyesore.

“It will be fabulous to see something actually happen on that site which has been vacant since 2011,” Cr Crossley said.

“The Port of Sale is the perfect location for the new TAFE campus.

“It’s in walking distance to the CBD, accessible via public transport, it’s a few metres away from the Port of Sale precinct which his home to the Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale Library and has just come online with the EduCloud system.

“Once complete, the Port of Sale will be a comprehensive precinct for education, arts, culture, entertainment, learning and recreation.”