In a boost for the Shire's job market, Roads and Maritime Services have opened its Infrastructure Skills Legacy Training Hub on the site of the old Batemans Bay Bowling Club.
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Bega MP and Infrastructure Minister, Andrew Constance, and Oxley MP and Roads Minister, Melinda Pavey, opened the hub on Saturday, February 23.
The hub, at the corner of Beach Road and Princes Highway, will train workers during the construction of the new Batemans Bay bridge.
Layton Simon is part of one of the first groups at the hub, which was previously based at Mackay Park, Batemans Bay.
"We've got a lot of young fellas who have no previous training with construction, so they're getting a good opportunity to go into a trade-type industry," he said.
"It's given them a boost, and the motivation to keep going."
There will be dozens of people that we'll look to employ once they're finished
- Ian Archer, RMS
Mr Simon said most trainees hoped to gain full-time work after their training.
"With this bridge project, it sounds like it's going for a few years, so that'll lower the unemployment around the area," he said.
"It's a great opportunity for different people to become self-proficient, to maybe eventually start their own businesses after their training."
RMS senior project manager, Ian Archer, said the hub would those not normally involved in construction, such as women, youths under the age of 25, and long-term unemployed Indigenous people.
"With the amount of spending in infrastructure at the moment, we actually have a skill shortage," he said. "This Training Hub will attempt to make up for that, and leave a legacy for future projects in the area.
I've got to pay tribute to the Batemans Bay Aboriginal Land Council, who has been trying to get young Aboriginal people these types of opportunities for years.
- Andrew Constance
"I can't tell you any precise numbers (for the amount of people at the hub), but there will be dozens of people that we'll look to employ once they're finished.
"If not us, John Holland will be trying to employ people, and other sub-contractors will also be looking."
Mr Archer said the training would cover basic construction skills.
"The training is what they call civil construction, and it'll operate at different levels," he said. "There's Cert 2 and Cert 3, and those levels focus on things like general construction skills, safety, how to look out for underground utilities, and putting up temporary fencing.
"As they get involved with teams on the work site, they'll pick up other skills there."
Mr Constance said Eurobodalla Shire residents would get the first look in for positions at the hub.
"We wanted jobs out of this (bridge) project, and full marks to RMS, John Holland, and the infrastructure hub, because we'll be upskilling local workers," he said.
"I've got to pay tribute to the Batemans Bay Aboriginal Land Council, who has been trying to get young Aboriginal people these types of opportunities for years.
"This doesn't happen every day, and it'll start a cycle in terms of employment opportunities for young people as we see the roads and hospital built."
Mrs Pavey said there could be hundreds of workers trained at the hub.
"It's a unique opportunity, but it's also a chance to transform lives," she said. "We've learned from our other infrastructure builds that adding this component can be a big game changer for individuals.
"The flow-on effect is profound, and it's not going to end soon. Our plan is to get this infrastructure spend spread throughout the state, and we're going to need people to fulfill the jobs we expect to be coming."
