$3.4 million TAFE upgrade for Bowen

North Queensland will become the heart of agriculture training, with the first sod turned for a new $3.4 million Agriculture Centre of Excellence — featuring a tech-focused 'Smart Centre' — in Bowen.

Turning the first sod at the Bowen TAFE campus, Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the state-of-the-art facility would train and prepare Queensland’s workforce for growth in the agriculture industry.

“The new centre will offer more than 70 courses related to agriculture and will help trainees and apprentices develop the skills they need to ensure Queensland is ready to capitalise on industry growth,” Farmer said.

“Bowen is a prime location for agriculture training and industry expansion and highlights North Queensland as a great place to work, live and invest.”

In addition to general learning and workshop areas, the Centre of Excellence will feature a Smart Centre for data analysation and computerised training technologies; a virtual reality room providing advanced tech for emerging industry needs; a science lab; a Farmbot for robotics, nutrition, soil science, biology and coding; and a Growpod for monitoring stable growing environments and producing horticultural and agricultural products in all climates.

Construction is due to be completed in August this year.

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