Mr Barilaro said the NSW Government is continuing its record spend on infrastructure in regional areas and partnering with TAFE NSW to deliver the skills needed to create new jobs in the future.

“During the peak construction period, the Pacific Highway upgrade will create 4000 jobs directly and another 12,000 jobs indirectly,” he said.

“In Nambucca we have a pop-up civil construction facility with a new cohort of students starting today.

“This an example of TAFE NSW providing training opportunities for locals to get a job working on the Pacific Highway upgrades. 

“The training is mobile so it can move on to the next location where there is demand for skilled workers.”

Mr Barilaro said regional economies in NSW are directly benefitting from an increase in local employment and receiving a boost from families relocating to regional areas to work on Pacific Highway upgrades.

“Around 43 per cent of workers who relocated to work on the Pacific Highway had a family or partner relocate with them,” he said.

“This is driving growth in economies like Nambucca and Macksville and making regional areas an attractive place to live and work.

The Nambucca site is a partnership between TAFE NSW, TEAM training and Nambucca Shire Council and is part of a statewide campaign that aims to get 500 students in jobs in 500 days. The tally is currently at 157 jobs.

Pacific High driving growth in regional economies:

* About 72% will work on the upgrade for between one and three years.

* About 65% of those who relocate rent local accommodation.

* About 50% have worked on the upgrade for as many as eight years.

* About 43% who relocated had a family or partner relocate with them.

* About 38% who relocated to the area have joined a local sporting team or club.