Goulburn Ovens TAFE's $1.4 million refurbishment of its cafe and restaurant facility at the front of its central Shepparton campus building is well under way.
Project officer Emma Merlo said the upgrade was needed to bring the original cafe and restaurant up to contemporary hospitality industry training standards.
The project will upgrade the commercial kitchen, restaurant and barista training spaces and will include a 60-seat cafe area open to the public with all-gender toilet facilities.
Ms Merlo said the refurbishment would create a dual-purpose, multi-functional space that could transition between functions and hospitality training requirements.
GOTAFE enterprise co-ordinator Kirstie Ash said the cafe would be open to the public from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, offering cafe and lunchtime choices.
“Coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, drinks, that sort of thing. It will be a beautiful space where people can enjoy lunch and our students can bring their own food and enjoy the space as well,” Ms Ash said.
She said baking products from student kitchens would also be on sale at competitive prices.
She said the new facility would also provide an opportunity for employment in the hospitality industry.
“We'll have a number of jobs advertised directly linked to the cafe,” Ms Ash said.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O'Keeffe said the project was a great opportunity for the city.
“It's really important to have up-to-date training, so our workforce can be job-ready. And it's an opportunity to stay local,” Cr O'Keeffe said.
The redesign has been funded by the Department of Education and Training and developed in conjunction with Melbourne-based Zwei Architects Switchco Build.
The new cafe is expected to be completed by March.
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