A partnership between Tweed Shire Council, TAFE and a training contractor is set to transform an abandoned old quarry at Terranora into native bushland.
The restoration of the disused quarry will not only be cost-effective rehabilitation, but provide the building blocks for better training.
Representatives of the three groups met at the disused Walls Quarry last week to discuss final preparations for the venture, which Tweed mayor Barry Longland says will be the final stage in transforming ‘an abandoned hole in the ground back into native bushland’.
‘At the same time, it will give resource industry trainees a better taste of real work conditions,’ Cr Longland said.
Council purchased the site more than 20 years ago with the aim of rehabilitating the property once the original quarry hole had been filled.
Filling operations were completed in 2009 and last year Council called for expressions of interest from groups to partner with to restore the site.
As a result, council entered into an arrangement with Tweed firm All Excavations Training to undertake the landforming and revegetation outlined in a restoration plan for Walls Quarry.
Cr Longland said the initiative would be an extremely cost effective way to rehabilitate the quarry site, while creating more job-ready graduates for roles such as excavation and plant operators.
‘While All Excavations Training is progressively rehabilitating the site, the students will undertake practical training exercises in a range of courses,’ he said.
The firm’s owner, Jeff Green, said the restoration project would be used to provide real-life, hands-on tuition and experience for resources industry trainees.
‘Simulated training cannot give trainees all the facets of experience they need to effectively move into the workforce,’ Mr Green said.
‘Working on a project like this quarry also creates a real sense of accomplishment and greater confidence in their skill levels.’
Mr Green is also partnering with North Coast TAFE to provide the training.
TAFE industry services director Julie Board said the organisation was finalising four ‘job pods’ (modified shipping containers) which would become temporary customised classrooms at the quarry.
‘The solar-powered pods will be similar to the offices you would find at mining sites and construction projects, enhancing the real-life experience for trainees,’ Ms Board said.
‘On-site classrooms like this are a fantastic way for us to take the training out into the community.’
Council general manager Troy Green said the partnership was another positive initiative following on from council’s economic development strategy, bringing a quadruple benefit for Tweed Shire.
‘Not only is this joint venture saving Tweed ratepayers a significant cost in rehabilitating the site, the training is bringing more economic activity in the short-term, creating career paths for people and ensuring we have more skilled workers for future development projects,’ Mr Green said.
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