News Item

NEW LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION COURSE FOR GIPPSLAND

March 7, 2011

Increasing demand for skilled landscapers has prompted ECG (Education Centre Gippsland) to offer a new accredited course in 2011 specialising in Landscape Construction.

ECG General Manager Industry Development, John Brereton, said landscape construction was a growth industry with the average residential spend on landscaping on a new home between $20,000 and $40,000

“This new Certificate III course is being offered at ECG’s Warragul and Leongatha campuses and is tailored to new entrants as well as those already working in landscape businesses seeking to further their skills or formalise a qualification. It is also open to homeowners who are seeking to landscape their own homes.”

Mr Brereton said the new program was one of several new speciality streams added to the Certificate III Horticulture course at ECG McMillan in 2011 to enable people to specialise in specific career areas.

“We are also offering new course streams in retail nursery, wholesale nursery, and parks and gardens.

“The new streams have been developed in response to industry demand for people with skills in both general and specialist horticulture areas.”

He said the new programs complement the existing range of horticulture courses offered by ECG including Certificate to Diploma level courses in Production Horticulture, Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture, and Arboriculture.

Mr Brereton said a feature of all ECG horticulture and agriculture courses is the focus on sustainability to broaden the skills and understanding of ECG graduates in concepts such as renewable energies, organic farming, biodiversity, erosion control and more.

“ECG offers flexible course delivery so participants can start a course at any time when a new unit begins and study at their own pace.”

For further information contact:

John Brereton
General Manager Industry Development
Community College Gippsland
Tel: 03 5622 6000
Mob: 0409 226 032
Email: johnb@ccg.asn.au