By Paul Hemsley

Young Canberrans will be able to complete their skills and training on the proposed ACT government office block.

Around 200 young Canberrans will work on the project, with about 10 per cent of workers to be apprentices, trainees and young Indigenous people.

It is estimated the $281 million investment in the building will support about 2000 jobs over the course of the project.

According to an ACT Government spokesperson, the office block will relocate about 3500 public servants who are currently housed in a range of owned and leased buildings spread across Canberra.

“The ACT Government will train the young workers as practised in the implementation of this policy through the roll-out of Building the Education Revolution (BER) projects in the ACT,” the spokesperson said.

Requirements are written into procurement agreements that ensure contractors are able to support the government’s policy, according to the spokesperson.

“The Construction Industry Training Council of the ACT has agreed to monitor and validate industry take-up of apprentices, trainees, cadets and indigenous employees on the project – reducing the burden to industry of reporting requirements,” the spokesperson said.

“It will feature low energy emission design and technology providing workers in Canberra the experience and training essential for the industry’s future as the need to build more sustainable buildings continues to increase”. 

There will be an open tender process and there is no federal funding for the project.