The work is being undertaken on the Hill Street site before construction can start on a $6.6 million Tertiary Education Centre.

NSW Public Works is managing the project and Pluim Commercial Contractors are doing the construction.

The 13-metre high, four-storey regional education facility, which will cater for up to 90 mining engineering students and six teachers, was determined by the Joint Regional Planning Panel last October.

When completed, Hunter TAFE will deliver the University of Southern Queensland’s Associate Degree of Engineering (Mining) in a franchise arrangement.

The car park at the back of Loxton House will be removed to make way for the TEC, with the loss of 21 car spaces.

A large native eucalypt must also be cut down to accommodate the development.

A wildlife assessment was carried out on the tree earlier this month revealing an abandoned magpie nest and no wildlife activity.

Approval consent conditions required the presence of a qualified animal controller on site during the tree’s removal in case fauna were discovered and needed to be relocated.

Muswellbrook Shire mayor Martin Rush said vehicular traffic will increase during the 12-to-18-month construction phase, but precautions have been taken.

“Council has worked to reduce the impact on local business, community facilities and residential traffic by constructing a site compound,” he said.

Cr Rush said contractor parking will be limited to specific areas, on a needs basis, during the building period.

He thanked Muswellbrook residents and ratepayers in advance for their patience and urged them to continue to support small businesses in the Muswellbrook CBD precinct during construction.