Construction is underway for the new $2.5 million Whitsunday Maritime Training Centre with facilities forecast to rival the country’s best and expected to attract trainees from near and far.
Located at the Whitsunday Sailing Club in the heart of Airlie Beach, the new centre will increase the training capabilities fivefold by doubling the floor space of the entire club.
There will be five purpose-built classrooms, an engineering workshop and lecture theatre as well as a versatile boardroom which can be opened up to boast a substantial deck with expansive sea views.
While its first role will be training future mariners, the centre will also become a community hub and a multi-use function space for industry and community groups to hold meetings, workshops, seminars and more.
Director of Projects and Development, Terry Archer said that he is excited to see this game-changing facility come to the Whitsundays.
“This will make the Whitsundays one of the best learning maritime centres in the whole country,” he said.
“It will attract students from all over Australia and potentially South East Asia and the South Pacific.”
Training Manager, Kaye Williams, said that she is looking forward to expanding the services and no longer having to restrict numbers due to limited space.
“We will be able to expand our training offerings which will be terrific,” she said.
“The quality of our instructors is equal, if not better than, other training centres – we even have a Master 1 instructor which really stands out.”
The Whitsunday Maritime Centre will focus on ‘near coastal’ qualifications, inside the reef on vessels up to 45 metres in length.
Mariners can achieve their Coxswain ticket, Master 24 (5), Master 33 (4), Master 45 (3) and their MED 2 certificates from the centre.
The build is expected to be completed by the end of this year and, due to an increase in building costs, developers are currently securing more funding for fixtures and furniture.
Sailing Manager Ross Chisholm, Training Manager Kaye Williams and Whitsunday Sailing Club General Manager Robin Ross.
“This will make the Whitsundays one of the best learning maritime centres in the whole country,”
Terry Archer
