This year's State Budget has delivered for Townsville with almost $14 million committed towards the new training facilities at the Pimlico TAFE campus.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman visited the campus to inspect the work underway at Pimlico.
"Making sure we have the skilled workforce for the jobs of the future in Townsville is vital to our thriving economy," Ms Fentiman said.
"The Palaszczuk Government will continue to invest in training for Queenslanders and that's why we have doubled our commitment to revitalise TAFE campuses across the state with more than $105 million in this year's Budget.
"As part of this commitment, almost $14 million will go towards the $35 million project to support hospitality, health and beauty training spaces as well as revitalising the campus to ensure Townsville students have access to world class training.
"At the Pimlico campus upgrade the Queensland Government's Building and Construction Training Policy is being applied, which ensures 15 per cent of labour on the project is undertaken by apprentices and trainees.
"All up, the equivalent of 98 full-time jobs will be supported during the delivery of the Townsville project.
Member for Mundingburra Coralee O'Rourke said the work includes construction of a new two-storey teaching block that will be attached to the existing D Block, which is also being refurbished.
"This will lead to a consolidation of buildings across the site into a single two-storey structure that will include a new hospitality training café and commercial training kitchen," Ms O'Rourke said.
"There will also be commercial training for hairdressing and beauty, a simulated nursing ward along with associated first aid and medication training rooms."
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said the upgrades to the campus include more energy efficient upgrades including solar power to reduce power consumption.
"The new building will be cooler from enhanced airflow and more energy efficient with a 100kW solar PV system to reduce power consumption, along with LED lighting," Mr Harper said. said.
In Townsville the project will position TAFE's Pimlico campus as the region's modern training centre specialising in nursing, hair and beauty and hospitality.
The redeveloped campus will accommodate up to 900 full-time students and support an estimated growth in student numbers of 20 per cent over time.
The upgrade of the TAFE Pimlico Campus commenced in December 2018 and is scheduled for completion in November 2019, just in time for the new study year.
"We will continue our free tafe initiative to provide all year 12 graduates the opportunity to gain a valuable qualification across 160 courses and launch into an exciting career for free.
"At the Pimlico campus there are more than 56 students already gaining a qualification for free thanks to free tafe.
Free tafe for Year 12 graduates is available in the calendar year after students graduate. Eligibility criteria, advice for people interested in taking up a training course and other information on accessing this free training funded by the Queensland Government is available from www.desbt.qld.gov.au/freetafe.
