Better TAFE facilities
$4,540,000 has been allocated to the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE from the Federal Government's Better TAFE Facilities Fund, for new equipment, building improvements and IT infrastructure upgrades. The work is to be carried out over the next twelve months, with funds to benefit each of BNIT's seven campuses.
(l-r) Block A, Level 2, Ithaca Campus (to be redeveloped for hair dressing and beauty therapies), a smoking spot to be converted to an outdoor teaching area and grounds to be upgraded to house wireless kiosks.
A majority of BNIT's building infrastructure is getting towards the end of its property life cycle. These urgently needed funds will be used to upgrade BNIT's Bracken Ridge, Ithaca, Redcliffe, Caboolture, South Brisbane and Grovely campuses. Ultimately the upgrade of facilities and infrastructure at BNIT will better support all staff and students in their daily activities throughout the institute.
The spending has been broken in the the following areas;
Minor works
Minor works spending will total $1,580,000 and will include improvements to the Ithaca campus at block A for essential refurbishment works to assist with the delivery of training in the areas of hair dressing and beauty therapy.
Other upgrades will include an improved fire protection system for the server room at the Bracken Ridge campus. The refurbishment of an obsolete area at Ithaca will be converted into a functional class room. The replacement of outdated and unrepairable air-conditioning chillers at Bracken Ridge will provide better cooling and increased energy efficiency.
Maintenance work
Maintenance work will total approximately $1,655,000 and will include cosmetic upgrades to block A at Ithaca campus including the installation of fibre cabling at both the Grovely and Ithaca campuses.
Other maintenance works will include upgrades to BNIT's lighting through conversion to more energy efficient systems reducing BNIT's carbon foot print. Upgrades to existing redundant master key systems will also be captured in this spend inclusive of upgrades to landscaping and bitumen car park improvements.
Equipment upgrades
Equipment upgrades will total $1,305,000 and include the replacement of obsolete lecture theatre equipment at the Bracken Ridge and Ithaca campuses. It is hoped that the equipment upgrade will help enhance the student learning environment with a potential for Videolinq. The redundant telecommunications system will be upgraded to VOIP and will provide an opportunity for improved service combined with ongoing cost savings.
Other equipment upgrades will include the upgrade of the outdated Avaya call centre recording system and implementation of wireless technology allowing students and staff to access the network anywhere on BNIT campuses. Finally a secondary storage area for network disaster recovery will be built so that IT resources are protected in the event of a disaster and all dated/obsolete core switches will be replaced where needed to help maintain the operation of BNIT's IT infrastructure.