Gold Coast’s new TAFE unveiled

COOMERA is about to become the creative industry capital of the Gold Coast, with the $31 million TAFE campus set to open its doors to 600 students in 2011.

Goldcoast.com.au has been taken on a tour of the new campus at Foxwell Road, which includes digital video and editing suites, music rehearsal studios, computer labs, an outdoor natural amphitheatre and two indoor theatres including a black box theatre.

A floor in the main building of the campus has been set aside for future expansions and will take pressure off the existing campus, said acting chief executive officer Aaron Devine.

”We think this future plan will be big enough for some stage,” he said.

”We are the first (large) development in Coomera.

”After Ashmore and Southport it would be our third largest campus.”

The campus is one of a number of planned projects in the area and Mr Devine said he believed the nearby rail station would help it and other businesses grow.

Seven recording studios are on the lower floors of the main campus building and TAFE plans to build partnerships with industry representatives to allow them to use the facilities, including the theatres.

A school will be built next to the campus and Mr Devine said there was some space for future expansion at the site if needed.

About $2 million will be spent on IT infrastructure.

Original article at Goldcoast.com.au by Thomas Chamberlin   |  August 26th, 2010