Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the Australian government had invested $3.2 million to launch the new training centre from the former Regional Development Australia Fund.
"This facility will be used to train a variety of tradespeople including carpenters, bricklayers and scaffolders to help meet the current and future construction needs of the Northern Territory," Truss said.
"Through the National Stronger Regions Fund, we have committed $1 billion to stimulate economic growth and resilience in our regions through projects just like this one."
Federal Member for Solomon Natasha Griggs, who joined Truss at the training centre's opening last Friday 25 July, said the Housing Industry Association had used Australian government funding to build a modern training facility.
"The Northern Territory has experienced strong population growth in recent years, thanks to the boom in the resource sector," Griggs said.
"This has increased demand for skilled tradespeople and created new job opportunities, particularly in the residential housing market.
"Not only will this training centre be instrumental in supplying qualified tradespeople to meet this demand, it will also provide mentoring opportunities for school leavers and business support services for the many small businesses currently operating in the Northern Territory.
"More than 500 people are expected to be trained at the centre each year.
"The construction of this centre marks an important step in the growth and diversification of Darwin's economy."
The Multi-Purpose Building Industry Training Centre was built in partnership with funding from the Australian government and the Housing Industry Association.
