MEDIA RELEASE: LABOR INVESTS IN HUGE BOOST TO TRAINING, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND TOURISM ECONOMY IN WOODFORD

ANTHONY ALBANESE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT
AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SHADOW MINISTER FOR TOURISM
 
TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
 
SUSAN LAMB MP
MEMBER FOR LONGMAN
 
LABOR INVESTS IN HUGE BOOST TO TRAINING, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND TOURISM ECONOMY IN WOODFORD
 

A Shorten Labor Government will invest $8.5 million in Woodford, one of Longman’s regional centres, to enable it to become a major tourism hub.

This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government which will invest in jobs, tourism and the arts, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos.

Labor’s investment would deliver a number of strategic projects on the site, such as infrastructure works and Stage 3 of the site’s plan, which would transform it into a year-round facility.

This significant investment will unlock the potential of the site, creating new jobs, and training people for work in hospitality and event and volunteer management, while encouraging more international and domestic visitors to spend time in the area.

INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS

Labor would invest $5 million in key infrastructure works, which include the development of a hospitality and event management training centre, a small business incubator, as well as accommodation for more than100 persons to stay on-site.

With its annual Woodford Folk Festival, the Woodfordia Site is already one of the major tourism hotspots in South East Queensland, which injects millions of dollars annually into the local economy.

This funding will allow the site to continue to expand and the development of accommodation will allow more people to stay on site – people who spend money at local stores and buy meals at local restaurants.

These upgrades could facilitate the creation of up to 900 full time jobs in the region.

The hospitality and event management training centre will also skill-up students, and the many apprenticeship positions available during construction will be a boon for locals.

TRANSFORMING WOODFORD INTO A YEAR-ROUND FACILITY

Labor will invest $3.5 million in stage 3 of the Woodford site’s plan to allow arts and music to flourish in Queensland and be accessible to the community of Woodford and surrounds.

It will also allow for long term secure employment opportunities, providing training in an area with nearly 18% youth unemployment.

Completing stage three will allow the creation of two permanent high-quality all-weather, year-round venues with multiple functionality, giving it the capacity for small to large concerts and events throughout year.

Vital infrastructure investments will see the maintenance and upkeep for the Woodfordia school of hospitality, event and volunteer management training which will lend a hand in training young job seekers and those looking to train in new skills to further their career.

A Shorten Labor Government will work with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Queensland Labor Government to complete this long-awaited project in the region.

SUNDAY, 5 MAY 2019