- $134
million to fast-track large-scale projects in Collie by activating industrial
land
- Allocation from the Collie Industrial
Transition Fund to support delivery of major infrastructure upgrades to service
the Coolangatta Industrial Estate
- Major Collie projects push ahead with
expansions, diversifying the town's economy as it transitions away from
coal-fired power
The Cook Labor Government has allocated $134 million from its Collie
Industrial Transition Fund to activate Collie's
Coolangatta Industrial Estate to help secure major new job-creating industries
for the region.
Collie's Just Transition
is powering ahead, with new industries and businesses emerging across the town
as the transition away from coal-fired power generation progresses.
The Cook Government has
today announced $8.3 million to secure 155 hectares of industrial land in the
Coolangatta Industrial Estate – a strategically important parcel of land, which
has been the subject of considerable interest from major project proponents.
A further $8.5 million
has been allocated to detailed design to support the delivery of essential
infrastructure upgrades to the Coolangatta Industrial Estate's power, transport
and water supplies, bringing industry-ready land one step closer for large-scale
projects.
The remaining $117.2 million has been set aside to deliver
these works once detailed design is complete.
The infrastructure upgrades will boost the appeal of
Coolangatta for industries targeted by the State Government, as well as deliver
safer roads for the Collie community.
The funding allocation is an important step towards securing
new major industrial projects for Collie in the lead up to 2030, when
State-owned coal-fired power stations will close.
While in Collie today Premier Roger Cook toured the sites of
two emerging industries continuing to scale up and play an important role in the
town's industrial future.
WesTrac Technology Training Centre, an international
training hub in Collie for autonomous vehicle technology used in mining
industries, will soon mark another accomplishment with the Stage 2 expansion of
the cutting-edge training facility nearing completion.
The project, previously supported through two grants with a
combined $3 million in funding from the Cook Government, will now include a new
remote dozer training area and expanded facilities, set for launch to market in
November this year.
Collie's Quantum Filtration production facility was also
officially opened, marking a major milestone in the town's Light Industrial
Area, with the site now commissioned and ready for operations.
Following a $2 million investment from the Cook Government
last year, the plant's commissioning will enable Quantum Filtration to cater
for a strong and growing global demand for its water filtration products.
The WA Labor
Government has already invested more than $662 million to deliver a Just
Transition for Collie, attracting new industries and putting training
opportunities in place as the economy transitions away from coal.
Comments attributed to Premier and State and Industry Development, Jobs
and Trade Minister Roger Cook:
"My Government is absolutely committed to delivering a strong future for
Collie, delivering major new industries and local jobs as the economy
transitions away from coal.
"We're seeing significant interest from exciting industrial projects
looking to establish in Collie, with Green
Steel of WA and Magnium Australia set to finalise their State-supported
feasibility studies in the coming months.
"Opening
up industry-land land at Coolangatta is a critical next step for Collie, to
make this town as attractive as possible for major projects.
"This
commitment today will help to secure Collie's future as an industry hub,
putting its skilled workforce to best use and setting up this town for the long
term.
"Everywhere
you look in Collie, you can see the Just Transition coming to life – from the
southern hemisphere's leading autonomous vehicle training hub to growth in
local manufacturing in the light industrial area.
"Our
plan is working – and Collie's future is bright under our WA Labor Government."
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"The Cook Government is committed to
supporting new and existing businesses to diversify, expand and create new
long-term jobs in Collie.
"This new funding activating Collie's
Coolangatta Industrial Estate is another important step towards securing major
job-creating industries for the region.
"When you invest in new industries, this
benefits the community in terms of jobs and training, and also has positive
flow-on effects to local businesses and suppliers.
"Diversifying local economies is really
important when building strong communities, along with building quality of life
with access to services - and we're doing both as we take Collie forward in
this Just Transition and build a strong future for generations to come."
Comments attributed to Collie-Preston MLA
Jodie Hanns:
"This is another important commitment from the
Cook Labor Government to create local jobs and set up our community for the
future.
"Collie's Just Transition is well underway,
and unlocking Coolangatta will take our efforts to diversify the local economy
to the next level, helping to attract major new industries for our town."
