Western Sydney TAFE campus approved in huge win for tradies

A huge new TAFE facility will be built in western Sydney to fuel the area’s need for hundreds more tradies each year. See the full plans.

An $80 million construction hub has been approved to be built at a Western Sydney TAFE campus, providing specialised training for hundreds of tradespeople in carpentry, electrical, construction and plumbing.

Taking inspiration from a similar building at Monash University, the new development will boast a series of open spaces including an elevated deck area, a central court and social terraces.

The development was approved on September 21 and is part of the state government’s pre-election promise for a multimillion dollar Western Sydney construction hub, which will be located at the existing TAFE NSW Kingswood campus on O’Connell St.

The new hub will offer specialised training in trades with key skills shortages like carpentry, construction, electrical and plumbing.

Once completed, the hub will produce 700 new tradies each year to keep up with the region’s infrastructure boom.

Penrith Council said it was a huge win for the local area, especially given the number of tradies.

Architect renders of the future facilities on Kingswood TAFE campus.

“The construction industry employs more of Penrith’s resident workforce than any other single industry and continues to be a growth industry in the region with the construction of the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport and aerotropolis,” a spokeswoman said.

In June last year, Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the facility would facilitate the infrastructure boom and train hundreds of students.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee.

“The Western Sydney Construction Hub will be conveniently located on the existing TAFE NSW campus in Kingswood,” he said.

“It will deliver specialised training for 700 new students each year in key trade areas such as carpentry, electrical, construction and plumbing.

“We know our State needs a strong pipeline of skilled workers to meet the demand of our infrastructure boom, and that’s why we’re significantly investing in TAFE NSW.”

Architect renders of the proposed facade for the new construction hub.

Architect renders of the future facilities on Kingswood TAFE campus, showing the Eastern side of the proposed building.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said he is confident that the new hub would equip students with job-ready skills.

Minister for Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, visited the existing Kingswood campus last year.

“With its world-class facilities, expert teachers and on-site industry engagement, the Western Sydney Construction Hub will help to deliver the skilled workers needed for major construction projects such as the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis, and the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport,” he said.

A render of the signature roof proposed for the approved construction hub, sourced from the architectural design statement.

A render of the signature roof proposed for the approved construction hub, sourced from the architectural design statement.

The location of the approved construction hub.

Locals can also expect more frequent public transport in the area once built.

It is scheduled to be ready in 2023. Construction dates are yet to be released.

More to come.