{"id":35085,"date":"2025-09-24T02:22:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=35085"},"modified":"2025-09-24T02:22:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:22:19","slug":"5-88-million-invested-into-central-coast-industry-training-jobs-and-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/09\/24\/5-88-million-invested-into-central-coast-industry-training-jobs-and-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"$5.88 million invested into Central Coast industry training, jobs and tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Minns Labor Government is investing $3.17 million into two Central Coast projects as part of funding from the Government\u2019s Regional Development Trust to promote economic growth and employment creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is part of the Minns Government\u2019s plan to drive regional economic development and support job creation based on demonstrated need and merit for projects that are ready to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together with the co-contributions from the two successful applicants, these projects will inject a total of $5.88 million into the Central Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The investments will deliver a purpose-built training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub in Ourimbah, plus upgrading the visitor experience at the high-profile Australian Reptile Park in Somersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These two projects will see the Central Coast benefit from business infrastructure that will drive further economic benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>$2.54 million &#8211; Expand and upgrade the visitor experience at the Australian Reptile Park<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The upgrades will modernise the visitor facilities, improve accessibility, and increase the Park\u2019s ability to cater for more international visitors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project will create local employment and strengthen the tourism industry across the Central Coast.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>$629,280<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Develop a training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The project will deliver a needed state-of-the-art training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub to provide training and workforce development opportunities for businesses, students, and job seekers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project aims to tackle skills shortages, drive technology adoption, strengthen the talent pipeline, and boost the region\u2019s manufacturing sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This funding demonstrates the Minns Government\u2019s smart approach to delivering sustainable and strategic investment on priorities that make a real difference to regional communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investments from the Regional Development Trust are reviewed by the Regional Development Advisory Council, an independent body appointed by the Minister for Regional NSW to provide advice on investments and ensure the interests of regional communities are at the centre of government decision making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further announcements regarding other successful projects from the Regional Development Trust will be made in the coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, go to:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsw.gov.au\/regionaldevelopmenttrust\">nsw.gov.au\/regionaldevelopmenttrust<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis funding backs regional communities with projects that create jobs, boost local businesses and improve services and forms part of the NSW Government\u2019s plan to invest in projects in our regional and rural communities that deliver long-term benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe upgrades at the Australian Reptile Park will drive a bigger number of international and domestic visitors to the Central Coast and ensure this iconic family attraction stays on tourist\u2019s must do list when visiting the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Central Coast is a powerhouse for food manufacturing and building a new training facility in Ourimbah will support the industry\u2019s longevity in the region, ensuring skills gaps are identified and filled, and exploring how new technologies can be used to increase productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is fantastic to see this funding targeted to a burgeoning sector and a tourist institution that is already a significant contributor to the Central Coast on so many levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe investment in a training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub will further boost the region&#8217;s credentials as a cutting edge fine food and beverage producer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Australian Reptile Park is the jewel in our region\u2019s tourist crown, attracting hundreds of thousands of people and pumping around $50 million into the Central Coast economy every year, supporting many local jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Liesl Tesch, State Member for Gosford said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Australian Reptile Park is such an exciting attraction, bringing in visitors from near and afar to learn about Australia\u2019s native fauna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe know that visitors to the Reptile Park often go on to stay in our region, boosting our local economy and strengthening our regional tourism sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe work of the Australian Reptile Park in conservation and venom research cannot be understated and I am thrilled that the Minns Labor Government is supporting their vital work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>David Mehan, State Member for The Entrance said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe allocation of $3.17m by the Minns Government into these local projects will support our region\u2019s position as a food manufacturer and allow the Reptile Park to continue providing its vibrant visitor experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis funding boost is a welcome investment, which will not only create more local jobs but continue to drive economic growth to our region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Australian Reptile Park Managing Director, Tim Faulkner said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Australian Reptile Park is proud to have been recognised as Australia\u2019s Best Large Tourist Attraction, and this grant represents another exciting step in our expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThrough the Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program, we will further develop our entry precinct, creating an enhanced and elevated welcome for all guests, including our valued international visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Central Coast Industry Connect Executive Director, Frank Sammut said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIndustry will benefit from upskilled workers across modern manufacturing operations, helping businesses lift quality, safety, and productivity while accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies such as automation and robotics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Central Coast Industry Connect Project Manager, Alex Blow said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis project will be a game-changer for our region, it will give people the skills, confidence and industry connections they need, and in turn this investment will help businesses grow and build a stronger local economy and more prosperous community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Minns Labor Government is investing $3.17 million into two Central Coast projects as part of funding from the Government\u2019s Regional Development Trust to promote economic growth and employment creation. This is part of the Minns Government\u2019s plan to drive regional economic development and support job creation based on demonstrated need and merit for projects &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/09\/24\/5-88-million-invested-into-central-coast-industry-training-jobs-and-tourism\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;$5.88 million invested into Central Coast industry training, jobs and tourism&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35085"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35086,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35085\/revisions\/35086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}