The future employment prospects of a Western Australian coal town could be better served by the establishment of a host of smaller and varied industries according to the owners of a business that has started to take root there.
Key Points:
- Locals say coal mining will continue to be a source of pride for the town of Collie
- More than $600 million to secure a new industry and retrain coal industry workers
- Efforts will be aimed at minimizing an exodus of workers to FIFO jobs
Coal mined from the south-western town of Collie has powered the southern Western Australian energy grid since the early 1950s, but mining began there earlier this century.
The WA Government recently announced a definitive timetable for its transition from coal-fired power generation and an intention to close state-owned assets at Collie by 2030.
It also completed an existing pledge towards a transition plan for the city, with the kitty now having $662 million earmarked to retrain around 1,200 workers who will be affected and attract new industry to Collie.
Muja Power Station, which feeds WA’s electricity grid, will cease operation in 2030.
Medical cannabis manufacturers Rod and Pam Zakostelsky secured and matched a $2 million state government grant to establish a facility for their company, Cannaponics, on land in Collie.
Part of the facility will include a 4,000 square meter greenhouse where plants will be grown for the company’s medicinal and nutraceutical range for a market expected to exceed $500 million by 2030.
Pam and Rod Zakostelsky say a multitude of smaller industries will provide future job security for Collie. (ABC South West: Anthony Pancia)
“Once we committed to purchasing the block of land, we realized that Collie had much more to offer than just affordable property,” Zakostelsky said.
“We would not have been able to build [a facility like] this in Perth, not only because the land is much more expensive, but there would have been many more challenges to get it approved with local government as it is quite residential. This is a beautiful place that fosters new industry.”
They expect to be able to employ up to 80 workers within two years and believed being on the ‘ground floor’ of Collie’s new industrial base was an exciting proposition.
Pam and Rod Zakostelsky hope to employ up to 80 workers within five years at their medical cannabis growing facility. (ABC South West: Anthony Pancia)
“It’s exciting for us because we’ll be producing a local product for the Australian and international market,” Mr Zakostelsky said.
“It will not only benefit Collie, but the entire South West region.”
Zakostelsky said an industrial base made up of numerous and varied industries would be key to Collie’s employment future.
“By having a large number of smaller companies replacing the current large one here in Collie, it will prevent a similar situation from happening again in the future,” Zakostelsky said.
If you can have five or ten smaller businesses that employ 50 to 100 people, you minimize exposure to the volatility of business cycles.”
Retain workers as a preferred option
Shire of Collie chairman Sarah Stanley said the “long lead time” allowed Collie to attract replacement industries was ideal and potential businesses would ideally meet “a number of criteria”.
Beyond Zakostelsky’s company, other industries that have already taken root in Collie include an autonomous driving training facility and a base for an international company that tracks space debris.
Space for play or pause, M for mute, left and right arrows for search, up and down arrows for volume. FIFO a potential drain on volunteers in regional Australia (ABC News: Anthony Pancia)
With increasing demand to staff remote FIFO positions in the upstate, Ms. Stanley said some workers would choose to fill those positions, but the preferred option was to retain local jobs for the local population
“We’re looking at industries that are early in their life cycle or that show strong demand with long-term, sustainable employment opportunities for this community,” Ms Stanley said.
“For us, it’s much preferable that these jobs stay in the village and be filled by people who live in the village. It’s much healthier for the community now and in the long term.”
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