Eighteen people today graduated from a unique pilot program teaching trail building skills to support local employment in the State's growing trails tourism industry.
The Job Ready Trail Construction Training Course, held this week in Collie, was attended by people from the Collie and Dwellingup regions in preparation for significant trails projects ramping up in coming years.
The course was focused on giving participants the skills to gain entry-level employment in the trails construction industry.
Significant State Government trails projects are taking place around Collie and Dwellingup, with construction set to continue for a number of years, creating local job opportunities.
During the five-day course, the participants learnt hands-on trail construction skills - led by world-class trail builder Nick Bowman.
Three leading members of Western Australian's trail building industry also attended the course at different times to share their knowledge and to meet the students.
Participants spent the first day of the course in the classroom at Roche Park Recreation Centre before heading into the bush for four days of trail building.
The McGowan Government is building the $10 million Collie Adventure Trails network to establish the town as WA's premier 'trail adventure town'.
The package will create 100 kilometres of high-quality mountain bike trails through the river valley between Wellington National Park and Collie, including the 65 kilometre 'epic' mountain bike trail network in the Wellington National Park.
In Dwellingup, the State Government is contributing $4.95 million to help implement the Dwellingup Adventure Trails project.
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray:
"Congratulations to everyone who graduated from the course. It is so important that local people are given the opportunity to develop the skills needed to find employment on these local projects.
"With the McGowan Government installing millions of dollars' worth of trails in the coming years, we want to make sure we have local people employed in the industry and driving its success."
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Graduates from this training course have been equipped with improved skills to contribute to the construction of trails.
"The course is the first of its kind and will give WA a training product that can be used in other communities.
"An improved trail network will encourage people to get into nature and explore WA's natural environment."
