Scott Morrison has announced $30m to fund a new school in Queensland to study mining.

Central Queensland University will set up a new school of mines and manufacturing at their campuses in Gladstone and Rockhampton, if the Coalition wins government on Saturday 18 May.

The university will launch new courses and degrees related to the mining industry, and will construct brand new buildings, new facilities and new equipment.

A new school of mines will be created in Rockhampton, and a new manufacturing training centre created in Gladstone, according to the plan.

In a press release, Morrison said this would not only support the mining sector, but would also train people in emerging industries like hydrogen. Hydrogen can be used to store energy generated by renewables like solar and wind.

“The $30m we’ve committed to this new school is about creating pathways for central Queenslanders to get the skills they need to succeed,” he said. “We want to be a country that manufactures things like aluminium and develop world class resources so we need to invest in regional jobs and skills.”

A CQU spokeswoman said the mining school would “facilitate delivery of additional and more advanced courses (from Tafe level through to higher education) to industry”.

“In addition, short courses and tickets will be offered by CQ University thereby increasing access to locals wishing to upskill for mine-related work.”

Morrison made the announcement with Coalition MPs Michelle Landry and Ken O’Dowd, whose Queensland electorates are held on slim margins.

Rockhampton lies in the seat of Capricornia, which Landry holds by only 0.63%.

Gladstone is in Flynn, which O’Dowd won by only 1.04% at the last election.

The Queensland Greens senator Larissa Waters said students at the new school would be “saddled with debt” because of the Morrison governments cuts to university funding.

“He’s not addressing the costs of students studying and the health of coalminers, and the fact that black lung disease is back,” she said.

“We know folk in Rocky are desperate for jobs, but we want to actually give them real jobs that will last … Our plan to transition away from dirty coal to clean renewable energy would generate almost 50,000 jobs in Queensland, and Rocky would have a good fair share of that.”

CQU is also contributing $7m to the project and the university’s vice-chancellor, Nick Klomp, welcomed the announcement.

“Today’s $30m funding commitment by the Coalition will allow CQ University to service the skills, education and workforce development needs of the mining, resources and manufacturing industries,” he said.

“The new facilities will ensure training opportunities cover the major mining and resource industries in the region, as well as new and emerging manufacturing industries that support them.”