New mine in the city opened under Northbridge

Central TAFE students can now get a feel for working underground without leaving Northbridge, thanks to a new $98,000 mining training tunnel.

Training Minister Peter Collier today officially opened The CUT Mine, a former service tunnel under the college's Aberdeen Street campus, which was converted with the support of industry.

Mr Collier said the simulated underground mine was the first of its kind in Western Australia and meant students would no longer have to travel 500km to get a taste of life underground.

"This project demonstrates the Liberal-National Government's vision to create a contemporary apprenticeship and traineeship system that is responsive to industry needs," he said.

A set designing company converted the tunnel, lining the cement walls with material to simulate rock faces containing copper, gold and nickel.

The 'mine' also includes a refuge chamber, donated by MineARC, which is identical to those used in industry.

The Minister said this facility, backed by industry support, would help Western Australians gain skills and qualifications to be a part of the State's economic future.

"Students who are undertaking the Certificate III in Mining Exploration will use the tunnel to learn face mapping techniques and basic mine safety," he said.

"Graduates of the six-month course will go on to be employed as exploration field assistants, pit technicians and underground geo-technicians.

"Working underground is not for everyone and The CUT Mine gives students a realistic taste of spending long hours with the only lighting from a lamp on their helmet."

Opening the facility also marked the start of a new era for Central TAFE, as Mr Collier unveiled the college's new name - Central Institute of Technology.

This is in response to the Minister's call to provide colleges with greater autonomy, giving them the opportunity to become more flexible, innovative and effective in a competitive marketplace.

"The new identity is the latest evolutionary step for Central, the State's oldest post-secondary education institution which first opened its doors in 1900, as Perth Technical College," Mr Collier said.

"It also represents a fundamental change in our approach to managing training in WA, providing the opportunity for colleges to present themselves as independent centres of excellence and specialisation."