INVESTMENT has been a driver for the NSW Liberal Party while campaigning in Port Stephens, this week they announced the funding of a TAFE Campus within the Nelson Bay CBD if they are re-elected in the upcoming 23 March election.

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A wide range of projects have been funded from the Koala Hospital and Nelson Bay Road, to equipment for Tomaree Community Hospital and Surf Life Saving Clubs and Solar Power for Raymond Terraces Men’s Shed.

The Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement with Liberal Candidate for Port Stephens Jaimie Abbott, Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer and local employer Amanda Boone of Arteke Salon Collective in Apex Park at Nelson Bay.

The facility would deliver education and a much needed boost to the Nelson Bay town centre economy.

Amanda’s business currently employs four apprentices all of whom travel to TAFE at Tighes Hill a two hour return journey from the Bay for every day which they study.

During the announcement the Premier acknowledged the barriers distance makes in accessing education and to young people completing apprenticeships.

The NSW government has allocated $7 million dollars to the project.

Amanda Boone told News Of The Area, “The CBD of the Bay has a real VIBE developing, for the apprentices within Arteke Salon Collective, the benefit of a TAFE offering industry driven courses in the CBD, and reducing the travel to their training courses will be huge.”

Liberal Candidate Jaimie Abbott said, “This announcement is an absolute game-changer for the people of Nelson Bay as they will be able to study a broad range of courses at TAFE locally, improving their ability to get the education they need to get a job and get ahead.”

Mayor Ryan Palmer said that there were multiple sites in the CBD being considered for the Campus, one of which is the Donald Street East carpark.

Kate Washington Member for Port Stephens said, “The Liberals have spent eight years making TAFE unaffordable and inaccessible for young people in Port Stephens.”

“The Tomaree Education Centre was purpose built to include a primary school, a secondary school and TAFE.”

“Those facilities are still there, but this Government has refused to provide adequate resources to run the TAFE courses we need,” Ms Washington said.

“The facility has been totally under-utilised,” she said.

Tomaree Business Chamber President Leah Anderson said, “A TAFE in Nelson Bays’ CBD will not only be an outstanding Education Asset for the Tomaree Peninsula but will provide a much-needed Economic boost to the Nelson Bay Town Centre.”

By Marian SAMPSON