Meat industry training centre for Chch

Press, 19 August 1983, Page 5

Meat industry training centre for Chch

Parliamentary reporter

The Government has approved the calling of tenders for a new meat industry training centre at the Christchurch Polytechnic. Mr P. R. Burdon (Nat., Fendalton) said yesterday that the approval followed a recent Ministerial decision to consolidate the polytechnic on its central city site. The polytechnic authorities this year successfully fought an attempt by the Education Department to make them use spare space at Christchurch Teachers’ College.

The new meat training centre will provide a permanent base for courses now run on leased premises at Belfast. It will be the most modern in the country. The plans include a model retail shop, a smallgoods unit for processed meats, a smoke-

house, a laboratory, and cooling and freezing rooms. The building will be a single storey, free-standing block with an area of 925 sq m.

Mr John Hercus, the polytechnic director, said he had not been officially notified of the Government’s decision. He declined to comment until he had, but said the polytechnic had been waiting for a new meat training centre for about 10 years.

In the last three weeks, about $lO million has been committed to capital works on educational projects in Christchurch. The figure covers the training centre, the rebuilding of the Christchurch Girls’ High School, and the redevelopment of Christchurch Boys’ High School.

Teachers’ College space, Page 11