Brisbane has much to offer the in terms of tourism. As a city close to the sea, a lot of visitors will be attracted to the beach and the sea-adjacent attractions that are on offer.
However, to support the tourism trade, the Queensland capital needs to keep on top of maintenance and make sure its attractions are able to keep people visiting, spending and supporting local businesses.
This is happening today as the iconic Shorncliffe Pier gets a long-awaited renovation. As Brisbane’s largest timber pier, and one of the longest recreational piers in Australia, the feature will be able to attract visitors again after its closure in May 2012.
First constructed in 1880, the pier’s renovation will hope to further reinforce Brisbane’s booming tourism trade, which in turn will open the door to greater opportunities for apprenticeships in Queensland.
A quay for growth
To ensure the pier begins to deliver for Queensland’s jobseekers as well as the wider economy, a number of jobs have – and will continue to be – created through the Shorncliffe project.
The first industry to benefit from the renovation (which began on November 26) will be civil construction jobs, with workers in skilled and entry-level roles needed to move the project along.
Some of the work needed to make the pier safe and usable again involves building a concrete and steel substructure and laying large amounts of timber and decking across the pier’s 350-metre length. This will require concretors, metal workers, carpenters and joiners, as well as general labourers.
The first stage of the $20 million project will take around 12 weeks, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk told Brisbane Times.
“A crane will drive steel pile liners into the bed of Bramble Bay, after which an excavator will drill out the core of these liners and the holes will be filled with concrete,” the Lord Mayor explained.
“Once the piles are strong enough, the crane will lift on the headstock and girders and the carpenters will add the timber decking and handrails.”
Hospitality apprenticeships well served
With the new-look pier set to be completed by early 2015, apprenticeships in the hospitality sector will also be boosted by the development. Both Australian and overseas tourists will have yet another reason to visit the state capital, stay overnight and dine in its restaurants.
This can give businesses the incentive they need to increase their workforces across a number of industries. Apprentice chefs, bakers and cookery assistants, for example, will be able to keep the food supplies high to meet greater demand from foot traffic in the region.
As we approach the summer months, businesses may already be looking to take on apprentices to help them cope with an influx of tourists and local holiday makers. Projects like this will help to secure these opportunities in 2015 and beyond.
By Leanne de Toerkenczy, Public Relations Coordinator.
