Joblink Plus is to develop the 2000-square-metre site as part of the expansion of its training

business.

The development was approved by Tamworth Regional Council on Thursday and tenders will be called this week.

The building will feature two ground floors, one opening onto Byrnes Ave and one onto Peel St.

The Byrnes Ave floor will comprise three large training rooms, which can be converted into a larger space as required, and is designed to be as functional as

possible.

The Peel St level will be used as office space.

It is expected to be completed by early next year.

The training centre will replace the often temporary and short-term use of other training facilities and meeting rooms throughout

Tamworth.

Joblink Plus offers training in community services, disability, child care, aged care, business administration and hospitality for people needing to upskill or retrain.

Sixty people are currently in training.

Joblink Plus has taken an environmentally sustainable approach to the development and will include features such as solar hot water, photovoltaic cells to put electricity back into the grid, natural lighting via skylights, to minimise the need for lighting during the day, and rainwater harvesting.

It will also use energy- efficient air conditioning with CO2 sensing to monitor fresh air requirements and zoning so only rooms requiring air conditioning are heated/cooled.

Energy-efficient lighting with sensors will automatically turn off lights, and secure bicycle parking will encourage staff and clients to ride to work.

Joblink Plus chief executive officer Chris Sheppeard said the re-use of the building itself would also have a smaller environmental impact than building a new one.

“The building has been vacant for about two years and we really wanted to do something to it to add life at this end of Peel St,” he said.

“We hope it will help revitalise this end of town.”

Joblink Plus board chair Esther Halliday said the project had been 12 months in the planning.

“The board decided to establish a training centre as a service that would be community-focused to help the disadvantaged members of the community,” she said.

“It reinforces the confidence we have here in Tamworth and the board’s commitment to the

community.”