A $35m public technical college will be built in Mount Gambier if SA Labor wins the March State Election.

The college would be constructed at Mount Gambier High School and include the latest equipment to ensure students are being properly prepared for modern trades and give students access to other subjects at the High School to ensure they complete their SACE.

SA Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas said the new Mount Gambier Technical College would also be funded with a further $6m per annum allocated for operating costs.

“The technical college will be up and running in time for the 2026 school year … evidence shows the industries with the highest levels of vacancies are looking for people with vocational qualifications – areas such as building and construction, food and automotive trades and community services and hospitality,” he said.

Mr Malinauskas said the technical college would establish partnerships with TAFE, industry training providers and look to establish partnerships with the forestry sector which is a critical employer in the area.

“I believe there is incredible potential for economic growth in Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast, making it a prime position for one of our new technical schools,” he said.

“The new technical college will not only provide young people in the region with a career pathway for the future but also provide a pool of talented young people to meet skills shortages in the community.

“Not every kid wants to go to university, we need to invest in pathways for all children so every young person can fulfill their potential.”

Shadow Education Minister Blair Boyer said the purpose of the technical college was to “ensure our young people have direct pathways into work, ideally in areas where local skills shortages exist”.

“The technical colleges will give students a head start in a trade while also giving them the opportunity to finish their SACE through its co-location with the high school,” he said.