While Trinity Catholic College was closed due to the Cathedral fire on Friday, earlier in the week Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Principal Brother John Hilet officially opened the new Technical and Applied Studies (TAS) facilities to provide new opportunities for students.

The $5.1 million refurbishment was originally slated for 2016 when Trinity secured a $1.6 million Federal Government grant but the 2017 floods delayed the project 18 months.

The other $3.5 million will be paid for by parents over the next 25 years.

Mr Hogan said “This will ensure students have the best possible education and set them up to be job ready once they leave school.”

“The refurbished and expanded TAS building will offer courses including wood work, metal work, engineering and jewellery. The type of jobs that we need in the future will be taught in this facility."

Trinity Catholic College Principal Brother John Hilet went into more detail saying the building has a stem room now where students can do laser cutting on plastics which will be used to make signs and illuminate lights as well as 3D printers, laser cutters and in the future a cdc router for 3D lathe cutting.

"This facility brings a modern approach to technical and applied studies," Brother John said, "I thank the Federal Government for the generous grant."

Students have been using the new facility since the start of the 2020 school year, it was officially opened on Tuesday.