New Trade Skills Centre for Alice

Work has begun on a $4 million Trade Skills Centre that will enhance CDU’s capacity to provide traditional trades training in Alice Springs.

Director of Central Australia Lyle Mellors said a building site on the southern section of the campus had been cleared and that the slab would be poured by the end of the month.

“This is fantastic news for the campus and represents four years of negotiation with a consortium of Alice Springs based Catholic and independent schools,” Mr Mellors said.

“The consortium will own the facility, although we will operate it on their behalf to deliver training in plumbing, metal work and other courses through the VET for Secondary Students program.”

Mr Mellors said while this was the first new building on Alice campus since 2010, CDU staff and students would benefit from several training rooms that had been upgraded and refitted this year.

“We have reconfigured a machine room in the welding workshop, rebuilt the Electrotechnology classrooms and IT office, and built a barista training facility in the Desert Lantern.”

Mr Mellors said he expected the Trade Skills Centre would be ready for use by the start of next year.