The state government has pledged $17 million to create the precinct which will bring together Federation Training, Federation University and the Morwell Tech School.  The precinct will be based at the current Morwell Federation Training site.   

Global tech company Fujitsu will also set up a service centre at the precinct, which the government is hoping will drive innovation and job creation in the region. 

Premier Daniel Andrews, who has declared he will personally oversee the Latrobe Valley’s transition away from coal-based employment, said “this Hi-Tech Precinct will link industry with students, creating more jobs where they’re needed most”.

Executive director of the Federation University’s Ballarat Technology Park Jeff Pulford said the success of Ballarat’s Technology Park in Mount Helen had been a driving force behind the government’s decision to enlist the help of FedUni for the project.  

Now more than 20 years old, the Mount Helen site currently employs around 1300 people in the tech sector. 

“What we see is opportunities for job creation in the tech sector and the service sector supporting the tech sector,” Mr Pulford said.  

“Today is the start of (the development of a long-term technology park), and FedUni’s intention is to be there for the long haul.”

The announcement comes one month after French company Engie announced it would close the nearby Hazelwood Power Plant by March 31 2017, which directly employs around 750 people.  

The job losses come as an extra blow to a region which already suffers from pockets of unemployment as high as 20 per cent.

The partners in the new development will spend the next six months consulting with industry in order to finalise what courses will be offered at the precinct.  

Construction of the premises is expected to take around 15 months and employ around 80 people.