Construction of the Clarence Correctional Centre is continuing to deliver job and training opportunities to the Clarence Valley community, with Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis visiting the site last Thursday to meet three of the newest apprentices to be employed on the project. Mr Gulaptis said the project is providing a much-needed jobs boost to the Clarence Valley, particularly for young people. “Seventeen per cent of the project workforce is under the age of 25 and a quarter of the tradespeople on site are apprentices – these are amazing statistics for our community”. The Clarence Correctional Centre is the fourth project to be a part of the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program, an initiative to boost the number of skilled construction workers and create fresh pathways across the State. Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, Small Business and Regional NSW John Barilaro said that the Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program sets minimum targets for the number of apprentices, women and indigenous workers employed by companies that win contracts to deliver major government infrastructure projects. “We want to make sure that by the end of construction, there is a generation of skilled workers in the local area that can continue to contribute to their communities in the future,” Mr Barilaro said. Paul Cassel, project director from John Holland said that they are meeting and exceeding the majority of their targets. “Apprentices currently make up 24 per cent of the trade workforce, surpassing the 20 per cent target set for us,” Paul said. “There are also 10 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in general and civil construction positions, exceeding our target of 8 per cent. “Whilst not an Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program target, nearly half of people employed to deliver the Clarence Correctional Centre are from the local region.” On 1 July 2018, the NSW Government commenced with the state-wide rollout of its Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program across all major Government infrastructure projects.