THE agriculture and horticulture sectors have expressed concerns about proposed closures of tafeSA campuses at Urrbrae, Wudinna, Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy.
The announcement came in the state government’s budget with industry groups still seeking more information about planned timelines and alternative options for key courses.
The pastoral industry had been in talks with tafeSA about the establishment of specialised agricultural training courses for staff on stations. It was expected to be rolled out early next year.
Livestock SA northern region chair Colin Greenfield said they were waiting to hear confirmation about what the potential closure of the Roxby Downs campus would mean for their plans.
“One of the modules was to be based at the Roxby Downs campus,” he said.
Mr Greenfield said pastoralists were disappointed by the decision.
“There is a huge need to travel for people on stations at the moment,” he said.
“For people at Innamincka and Oodnadatta, it is a long way to go to Port Augusta or Adelaide, instead of Roxby Downs.”
Related reading: Pastoral zones in need of targeted training
Mr Greenfield said a shift to formal training, instead of the present “ad hoc” approach, was needed.
“With the good wool prices, it has helped sheep producers to be able to employ people again,” he said.
“We need to be able to train staff to retain them so they can become the overseers and managers.”
Livestock SA chief executive officer Andrew Curtis said he recognised the need for efficiencies but was concerned when resources were removed from regional areas.
“Regional SA is a thin market so we need government support to ensure the training that is needed is available in regional SA,” he said.
Mr Curtis said while some components in the pastoral course could be taught on stations, some needed to be delivered in tafeSA facilities.
“Roxby Downs is well placed to deliver those, as it’s in the middle, rather than the edge,” he said.
Representatives of the Nursery & Garden Industry of SA, a Horticulture Coalition of SA member, say they were shocked with the decision to close the Urrbrae site.
The campus predominantly offers horticulture courses, as well as short classes in viticulture and agriculture, such as beekeeping and conservation and land management.
NGISA board member Geoffrey Fuller described the announcement as a “totally unnecessary” decision.
He said the course had more than 400 students enrolled, showing there was still good demand.
He said tafeSA’s courses had a very good reputation among the horticulture industry, predominantly due to the Urrbrae facility.
“This is the envy of most horticulture colleges in Australia,” he said.
“We’ve got fully-equipped laboratories and lecturing rooms and the specialists to back it up.
“We’ve got one of the best opportunities to teach up-to-date biosecurity, which is so important in this state.”
A change.org petition to save Urrbrae campus has more than 3500 signatures.
TAFESA interim chief executive Alex Reid said the institution had begun an extensive consultation process with staff, industry, councils and communities following the state government’s budget announcement of campus closures, emphasising this would continue prior to any change.
“I visited Wudinna and Roxby Downs last week and I will be in Coober Pedy before the end of the year,” she said.
“We will continue to deliver training in these local communities and to local students, to meet training needs.
“There will be no reduction in training activity in any of these areas.”
Ms Reid said tafeSA already conducted a significant amount of training off-campus – in workplaces and fit-for-purpose community facilities in local regions – which it could continue to do in regional areas.
“tafeSA has been working closely with pastoralists and station owners in the north of the state to deliver a tailored training program for their staff across 2019,” she said.
“Training will be delivered both on-site and at campuses, which will utilise tafeSA’s specialist training facilities.
“The training program will likely include butchery, first aid, fencing, livestock handling, vehicle and motorbike maintenance and welding.”
Education Minister John Gardner was contacted for comment.