The Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, and Geelong local member Christine Couzens, joined key leaders from across the industry at the official opening of the new Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) campus in Geelong, on Friday 25 November, 2016.

Over 100 Industry representatives attended the opening, which celebrated the completion of the first phase of the new Geelong Centre. The second Victorian campus for PICAC marks a crucial step in making quality industry training more available, with construction on a third site in the south eastern suburb of Narre Warren due to start early in 2017.

This exciting new facility is located at 66 Tanner Street, Breakwater and will enable PICAC to greatly improve training delivery in areas to the West and North of Melbourne, and provide unique, world class training, to more students than ever before.
Through this new facility, PICAC will be able to re- train hundreds of retrenched or displaced workers who have had to bear the brunt of a declining manufacturing industry. For existing qualified tradespeople including welders, metal fabricators, machinists, fitters and turners customised training, leveraging off their experience, could provide these workers with a real opportunity to re-enter the workforce with promising job prospects.

The building itself consists of two levels, totalling approximately 1,800m2. Features include four training rooms, double height open training area and a machinery and operating area. The second level includes a specialised training at heights facility. The project, designed by FMSA Architects, consist of 3 Phases with the first phase contract valued at approximately $4 million.

Keeping with the high-standards of the Brunswick Centre, the Geelong Campus is a Green Star rated building featuring hydronic heating and cooling coils set into the concrete slab for heating and cooling, in addition to other water and energy efficient systems. A key focus of the building was to create multipurpose training spaces that are flexible enough to deliver a range of specialised training, while also adhering to sustainable principles.

Through strong support from the Andrew’s Government, who has committed $5 million to PICAC, the diverse training needs of the plumbing and fire sectors will be greatly enhanced, ensuring the community can continue to benefit from a prosperous and strong industry.

“PICAC has, against the odds, created something no other industry has been able to replicate. The Union, together with the largest employer association and key industry bodies, came together for the first time in our history, to work towards the improvement and growth of our industry. This new Centre is proof of our dedication to creating a strong, well trained industry for Victoria and the country” – Earl Setches, PICAC Chair and Federal Secretary of the PPTEU
“This is about putting people first and giving workers in the plumbing industry the specialist skills and training they need to help build our state’s future.
We’re also supporting retrenched automotive workers and allowing them to retrain in one of Victoria’s key growth sectors.” – Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews