The McGowan Government has today unveiled the first stages of a multi-million-dollar investment package for two new facilities that will strengthen the manufacturing industry in Collie and the South-West region, and improve emergency services management throughout the area.
Premier Mark McGowan, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan, Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan and Collie-Preston Mick Murray MLA gathered today at the site of what will be a new $13.4 million emergency services management facility in the Collie Light Industrial Area.
The new Department of Fire and Emergency Services facility will create local jobs and ensure the South-West region has state-of-the-art resources to train career and volunteer emergency service volunteers and increase emergency management capabilities.
The facility will include an emergency driver training school and a regional fleet maintenance and management services workshop, which will employ 12 full-time workers, and can also be used as a Level 3 Incident Control Centre that can be required during large-scale emergencies such as a bushfire.
A tender for construction of the new facility will be released tomorrow.
More local jobs will be created with the construction of Frontline Fire & Rescue Equipment's new manufacturing facility, which has been made possible thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the $60 million Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund.
The new 1,700sqm facility will build firetrucks for emergency services personnel.
Frontline recently received $1.6 million of their Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund grant to start work next month on its new manufacturing facility.
The Frontline facility will be close to DFES' multi-purpose centre, which will also commission the new firefighting appliances built in Collie.
The $60 million Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund was established to help secure Collie's future and create ongoing local jobs.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"These two facilities will deliver local employment opportunities, while ensuring South-West communities have the best possible resources to manage complex bushfires.
"The multi-purpose facility is designed to provide vital support and training to career and volunteer emergency services personnel, not just in Collie and the South-West, but across the State.
"The Frontline vehicle-manufacturing centre will assist volunteer firefighters with the latest vehicles to combat bushfires throughout Western Australia.
"Concentrating emergency services facilities in Collie has a pivotal role to play in forging a strong economy and sustainable future for the town."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Our $2.5 million grant from the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund is another significant emergency services investment in Collie.
"We have been able to bring real work opportunities down to Collie to ensure a sustainable future for the town as it undergoes its economic transition.
"Future State Government emergency vehicle contracts will also be reviewed before tender to see if more work can be sent to Collie."
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan:
"This is a great result for Collie.
"The $13.4 million multi-purpose facility will deliver a purpose-built Incident Control Centre that will bring agencies together while providing the necessary intelligence, support and logistics that firefighters need.
"The emergency driver training provides essential skills for emergency services personnel who are operating big pieces of machinery in high-stress environments.
"Collie already has a strong history of servicing and fitting out fire appliances and Frontline's new manufacturing facility will bring more work opportunities to the town while building state-of-the-art firefighting appliances for our volunteer and career firefighters."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray:
"The investment in the manufacturing centre from the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund will be key to further unlocking Collie's economic potential, with the funding set to capture new opportunities for the region.
"I welcome these initiatives by the McGowan Government, and look forward to seeing these facilities creating more jobs in town for locals.
"This is another step forward by the McGowan Government in helping Collie transition into a more diversified economy and I'm sure it will be welcomed by the people of Collie."
