One Gippsland welcomes $50 million investment in renewable energy skills for Gippsland
One Gippsland has welcomed the announcement by the Australian and Victorian Governments to invest $50 million in the Victorian Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence in Morwell, calling it a major step forward in preparing Gippsland’s workforce for the region’s rapidly expanding renewable energy industry.
Investment will include the construction of a $15 million renewable energy digital training facility at the Morwell campus where training will be delivered across Australia’s TAFE network.
One Gippsland Chair and Mayor of South Gippsland Shire, Cr Nathan Hersey, said the announcement directly responds to One Gippsland’s advocacy for a TAFE Centre of Excellence to support the region’s renewable energy transition.
“One Gippsland welcomes the announcement of the new TAFE Centre of Excellence at the TAFE Gippsland Morwell campus," Cr Hersey said
"This investment will help prepare local students to be part of the future workforce needed for the energy diversification happening in Gippsland," Cr Hersey said.
"Our local people must play a key role in the future of energy production in Gippsland into the future," Cr Hersey said.
"The Centre of Excellence will help to ensure our local people remain central to renewable energy in Gippsland," he concluded.
One Gippsland member and Mayor of Wellington Shire Council, Cr Cindy Madeley said the Centre of Excellence is a significant win for the region but emphasised that further policy settings are still required to ensure Gippsland communities can fully benefit from the transition.
“As the first declared offshore wind zone in Australia, Gippsland is leading the nation, but we need a holistic policy framework in place to support our communities, our councils and our industries as this sector grows,” she said.
One Gippsland will continue to advocate for the other elements of the Renewable Energy Transition Package, including:
A Gippsland Offshore Wind Community Benefit Fund; and
Gippsland Offshore Wind PiLOR Enabling Infrastructure Fund
“Gippsland has a highly skilled workforce, established infrastructure, strategic port locations and supply chains, a winning combination hard to find,” Cr Madeley said
“This investment is a major step forward, and with future policy and funding setting following suit, Gippsland can secure long-term jobs, industry growth and energy security for Victoria and the nation.”