By Bridget Brady
A STATE-OF-THE-ART giant glasshouse to be built at Chisholm Institute in Cranbourne will lead the way in horticultural training in Australia, according to a horticultural trainer.
The $1.2 million government-funded project will feature the commercial glasshouse with the latest in controlled environmental training technology and a water treatment facility.
Work on the glasshouse is due to start in January and would be completed by June 2010. The initial construction of the glasshouse will be 1000 square metres by six metres high and a further 1000 square metre expansion of the glasshouse is proposed.
Chisholm horticulture trainer Tony Bundock said it was an exciting project.
“The industry was in need of a quality training facility nationally,” Mr Bundock said.
“It’s sort of going from stock car racing to formula one,” he said.
The technology would include a high level of technology in environmental and labour management as well as first-class crop production systems.
The facility will also contain specialised computer-based and practical teaching resources that will allow students to adopt a hands-on approach to their training.
“The facility is being developed to service the demonstrated training needs of growers in our local and regional area.”
Tomatoes and capsicums, which account for 80 per cent of the glasshouse industry, will be grown during the first stages of the glasshouse’s operation, Mr Bundock said.
He said the institute was very keen to push that the facility was not just for the benefit of students, but for the entire industry.
Mr Bundock said external parties would be welcome to check out the technology.
An international climate control equipment company had expressed an interest in the technology, Mr Bundock said.
Chisholm is due to announce the approved contractor for the glasshouse soon.
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