BDH Constructions’ Henry Bongers, Colac Secondary College’s Simon Dewar and site manager Andrew McCrae at the site of a new $3.5-million automotive and construction training centre.
CONSTRUCTION on the biggest part of Colac’s trade training centre is set to start within two weeks.
Colac’s BDH Constructions has secured a tender to build the $3.5-million automotive and construction training centre at Colac Secondary College.
The new building will include two main work areas, classrooms, information technology rooms and offices.
BDH Constructions’ Henry Bongers said the project would help the company maintain its staff levels.
“We’re hoping to start within the next fortnight,” Mr Bongers said.
“We need to be completed by Christmas so the school can be relocated from existing buildings for stage three of the school,” he said.
“The buildings are well over 40 years old.”
Mr Bongers said BDH would also use the project to train its apprentices.
“It’s always a bonus for BDH to get involved with local projects in Colac, and the staff we have, the majority are from Colac,” he said.
Ballarat’s Searle Bros started building Trinity College’s part of the trade training centre, a $1.5-million hospitality section, in April.
Colac Secondary College acting principal Simon Dewar said “minor works” had also begun at Lorne and Apollo Bay’s colleges for the trade training centre, which cost $5.1 million across a six-school cluster.
The cluster comprises Colac Secondary College, Trinity College, Colac Specialist School, Lorne-Aireys Inlet P-12 College, Apollo Bay P-12 College and Lavers Hill K-12 College.
Mr Dewar said he was pleased the school could continue working with BDH, which was also building the third stage of the college’s redevelopment.
“This facility will further enhance the opportunities for young people in Colac and allow an improvement in skills to enable the transition into the workplace,” he said.
“It’s not only great for the school but also for the local community, that we’ll be working with a local company and keeping the money in Colac.”
