TAFE Western has opened three new facilities to give young people of Orange and district skills for the future.

The Green Skills Trade Education Centre, mining simulator and new institute office were unveiled by Senator Steve Hutchins at TAFE’s Forest Road campus yesterday.

The Green Skills Trade Education Centre was produced with $5.169 million in federal government funding.

It boasts an innovative solar design, low-energy building materials and water efficiency, and is on track to gain five Green Star Accreditation.

The new mining simulator is designed to teach machinery skills in a safe, effective and inexpensive way.

TAFE Western institute director Kate Baxter said both the Green Skills Trade Education Centre and the mining simulator would provide world-class learning facilities right here in Orange.

She said the Green Skills Trade Education Centre would train tradespeople in a range of areas including plumbing, construction, electrotechnology, manufacturing and engineering, and aimed to develop sustainable building practices.

Senator Hutchins said the facility showed the commitment of federal and state governments to providing training to the tradespeople of tomorrow, and to sustainability.

He said training for the mining industry was vital to our region.

“I’ve been out opening schools and visiting councils in the past week and I continue to see evidence of the importance of mining to this region,” he said.

Federal member for Calare John Cobb said the mining industry in the Central West continued to grow.

He said the simulator will be a valuable addition to communities across the western region.

“Obviously it’s a lot safer situation in a room above ground than in a machinedown there,” he said.

Mr Cobb said the Green Skills Trade Education Centre would help people make better use of their resources.

“Look, green probably doesn’t give the right connotation, to me it’s about efficiency,” he said.

“If you can build something and make use of what nature gives us, that’s a good thing.”