Mackay-Whitsundays construction workers are being urged to take advantage of a $37.6 million training package announced today to help deliver $1.8 billion in construction work over the next 12 months.

Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) has announced the $37.6 million training investment package as part of its 2019-2020 Training Plan, with specific training programs to match forecast industry activity and skilling requirements of major projects.

Speaking at an industry launch in Mackay this morning, CSQ CEO Brett Schimming said the Mackay/Whitsunday Queensland region has a healthy pipeline of construction activity planned and underway.

“The Mackay-Whitsundays region is projected to deliver an estimated $1.8 billion in construction activity over the next 12 months, with 100 major construction projects confirmed for delivery over the next 2-3 years, and a further 140 potential projects planned but not yet committed.

“The major project pipeline is valued at between $4.2 billion (committed) and $16.5 billion (committed + potential) over the coming years.

“With the majority of these projects being engineering construction projects, CSQ predicts an increased demand for civil construction workers, including earthmoving plant operators, concreters and labourers.

“Large projects like the Carmichael Coal Mine and Olive Downs (mining) Project will drive a lot of the local activity.

“However, we are also forecasting $500M in residential activity, which is the highest since 2015, so this will also create work for a wider range of trades, including carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

“Our priority is making sure that all of these projects have a skilled and available local workforce to match changing project needs at various stages of their delivery and that is where this CSQ training investment comes in.

“It is also an opportunity for local workers to upskill by doing some training to take advantage of the new opportunities coming up in the Mackay-Whitsundays employment scene,” he said.

The top 5 major construction projects committed or underway in Mackay include:

Carmichael Coal Mine (Adani) $2,000,000,000 Committed
Olive Downs Project (Coking Coal Mine) $1,000,000,000 Committed
Whitsunday Shores $900,000,000 Committed
Mackay Ring Road $500,000,000 Underway
Ozcare aged-care facility $30,000,000 Underway