Training centre for Melbourne

Philip Hopkins February 13, 2012

IN A boost to the building and construction industry, Melbourne is to become home to a world-class simulation training centre.

The executive director of the Master Builders Association of Victoria (Master Builders), Brian Welch, described it as a coup for Australia. ''Melbourne will be one of only three cities in the world to offer state-of-the-art simulation training for the sector,'' he said. The others are in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

More than $10 million is being invested into the Master Builders Building Leadership Simulation Centre (BLSC), which will use 3D technology, replica site sheds and a team of trained actors to create an immersive, interactive learning environment. It will have the capacity to train thousands of building professionals a year, from project managers right through to apprentices.

The centre will open in Brady Street, South Melbourne, in July. Mr Welch said the centre would be a fundamental shift in the approach to industry training. ''Participants will practise communication and problem solving as they navigate two three-dimensional building sites projected on to a 15-metre-wide panoramic screen,'' he said.

It would provide international best practice. ''Experience in Europe shows that this style of training lifts employee performance.''

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Caulfield favourites on track

THE carve-up and redevelopment of Caulfield racecourse is a step closer, with the race club shortlisting three developers to bid on the multimillion-dollar project.

Lend Lease, Mirvac and Beck Property Group are believed to be contenders with one of the three expected to be chosen next month to oversee the development.

Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Alasdair Robertson would not comment on the shortlist but said all developers would be required to follow the incorporated plans for the site.

The club will continue racing at the track but will parcel up parts of the surrounding land for residential, retail and commercial development.

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One precinct in Smith Street will become the new entrance to the racecourse and include offices and 219 apartments and short-stay accommodation units.

A new ''boulevard'' linking Station Street to the rail underpass will have a supermarket, specialty shops, professional services, restaurants, cafes and up to 340 extra units.

A third part of the site along Heywood Street will house 270 medium-density dwellings.

There were a range of scenarios for how the development would be undertaken, ''that's all part of the discussion, '' Mr Robertson said.