❓ Mr. Punch asks the Premier for an update on the government's investments in Collie's economy and job creation. The Premier details several initiatives including training facilities, manufacturing, tourism investments, and a licensing centre.
AnsweredQoN 20Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COLLIE — ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
20. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
record-breaking investment in growing the economy of Collie and creating new
long-term, sustainable jobs in the region. Can the Premier update the house on
this government's —
Several members interjected.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Mr Speaker, I cannot hear myself ask
the question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member, start again.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
record-breaking investment in growing the economy of Collie and creating new
long-term, sustainable jobs in the region. Can the Premier update the house on
this government's unprecedented efforts to attract new business and
industry to Collie, as well as its efforts in providing more economic
opportunities for local businesses and local workers?
20. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
record-breaking investment in growing the economy of Collie and creating new
long-term, sustainable jobs in the region. Can the Premier update the house on
this government's —
Several members interjected.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Mr Speaker, I cannot hear myself ask
the question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member, start again.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
record-breaking investment in growing the economy of Collie and creating new
long-term, sustainable jobs in the region. Can the Premier update the house on
this government's unprecedented efforts to attract new business and
industry to Collie, as well as its efforts in providing more economic
opportunities for local businesses and local workers?
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you to the member for Bunbury. He is a great advocate
for Bunbury and the south west. If my memory serves me correctly, he may have even
lived in Collie for a large part of his life. It is terrific to be able to
inform the house of the great initiatives the
state is taking to diversify and support the economy and the people of Collie. As I outlined yesterday, we have established a $60 million industry attraction
and development fund and a $20 million Collie Futures fund. We are already
seeing results for the community.
The autonomous technology training facility, which I announced
recently with the member for Collie–Preston and the Minister for
Regional Development, and Piacentini and Son, and WesTrac—both great Western
Australian companies—will be located in Collie. It will be the southern
hemisphere's first Caterpillar autonomous technology training facility.
It is a world-leading project that will train Western Australians in autonomous
technology. As we know, that is happening all over Western Australia and the
world. The major training facility for that industry, in the entire southern
hemisphere, will be based in Collie because of the actions we took.
The government is supporting Frontline Fire and Rescue
Equipment to establish an emergency services vehicle manufacturing facility in Collie. There will be new manufacturing jobs.
A major vehicle manufacturer is establishing itself in Collie. When these things are built, they have to be built to
the highest of standards, which is why we have to go through a tender process. Otherwise, the lives
of volunteers and career firefighters could be put at risk. Therefore, the
tender process came up with that result, but we have ensured that a major
component will go into Collie.
There will be an $8
million new Department of Fire and Emergency Services multipurpose bushfire
facility in Collie, with an incident control centre, an emergency driver
training school and maintenance services for DFES vehicles.
We are investing in tourism. We are putting $10 million into
new mountain biking and bushwalking trails—the Collie adventure trails.
I think it will be magnificent, quite frankly.
The SPEAKER : They get everything in Collie!
Mr M. McGOWAN : All around Collie we are supporting —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! This is
good news for the member for Collie–Preston.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We are
supporting the tourism industry of that community. I think it will be a great
tourism attractor.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I think it
will bring people from around Australia and, indeed, the world, if we look at
other places that have these sorts of opportunities. Last night in the
courtyard, I learnt that mountain biking is now the world's fastest
growing sport. This is the sort of thing that will bring tourists and the like
to Collie.
One project I am very excited about
is the mural trail. We will have a range of murals in Collie on various public
facilities. Wellington Dam is going to be one of the world's greatest
murals. I have an image in my head that could be on the wall of Wellington Dam,
and I am looking at him right now—reclining Michelangelo-style on the
wall of Wellington Dam! It is a magnificent thing to think about. It could be
Michelangelo-style or, to be more modern, Jack Thompson–style—on
the wall of Wellington Dam.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : People will
come from all over the world to see that! But in any event it will be a magnificent
mural. The thing about tourists today is that they are looking for new
experiences. Communities that renew their tourism
product often attract more people and it can generate a new industry or add to
the tourism product of Collie.
On
top of that, up to 20 jobs are being established at the Department of Mines,
Industry Regulation and Safety licensing centre in Collie. We have just opened
$8 million worth of upgrades to Collie Senior High School, spent $12 million on
the redevelopment of Collie Hospital and $5.7 million on the redevelopment of
Lake Kepwari. We do support the regions and we are making sure that important communities are receiving the
benefits. It is not just me who is saying this.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
Leader of the National Party!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have an
article here from the Collie Mail of 12 December. It states —
Liberal MLC Dr Steve Thomas said he
admired the economic diversification projects the state government had been
implemented in Collie.
''What
Alannah Mactiernan is trying to do in diversification for Collie is worthy of
support and I think she and I agree the solution (for Collie) is not one easy
answer but a larger number of smaller projects,'' he said.
That is an important endorsement by Hon
Dr Steve Thomas. I note that the week before last, an opposition member was
complaining from Bunbury about the government's commitment to Collie
and saying that we are not doing enough. The member did not actually visit
Collie to promote her criticisms. She did not take the time to drive up the hill. As the member for Collie–Preston
knows, I go there a lot. The evidence is there. This government has done more to support the Collie community than any government in memory to make sure
that it has a strong and prosperous future and a diversified economy for that
important town.
The SPEAKER : I hope that the
dam wall is big enough to fit the member for Collie–Preston's
head on it!
for Bunbury and the south west. If my memory serves me correctly, he may have even
lived in Collie for a large part of his life. It is terrific to be able to
inform the house of the great initiatives the
state is taking to diversify and support the economy and the people of Collie. As I outlined yesterday, we have established a $60 million industry attraction
and development fund and a $20 million Collie Futures fund. We are already
seeing results for the community.
The autonomous technology training facility, which I announced
recently with the member for Collie–Preston and the Minister for
Regional Development, and Piacentini and Son, and WesTrac—both great Western
Australian companies—will be located in Collie. It will be the southern
hemisphere's first Caterpillar autonomous technology training facility.
It is a world-leading project that will train Western Australians in autonomous
technology. As we know, that is happening all over Western Australia and the
world. The major training facility for that industry, in the entire southern
hemisphere, will be based in Collie because of the actions we took.
The government is supporting Frontline Fire and Rescue
Equipment to establish an emergency services vehicle manufacturing facility in Collie. There will be new manufacturing jobs.
A major vehicle manufacturer is establishing itself in Collie. When these things are built, they have to be built to
the highest of standards, which is why we have to go through a tender process. Otherwise, the lives
of volunteers and career firefighters could be put at risk. Therefore, the
tender process came up with that result, but we have ensured that a major
component will go into Collie.
There will be an $8
million new Department of Fire and Emergency Services multipurpose bushfire
facility in Collie, with an incident control centre, an emergency driver
training school and maintenance services for DFES vehicles.
We are investing in tourism. We are putting $10 million into
new mountain biking and bushwalking trails—the Collie adventure trails.
I think it will be magnificent, quite frankly.
The SPEAKER : They get everything in Collie!
Mr M. McGOWAN : All around Collie we are supporting —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! This is
good news for the member for Collie–Preston.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We are
supporting the tourism industry of that community. I think it will be a great
tourism attractor.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I think it
will bring people from around Australia and, indeed, the world, if we look at
other places that have these sorts of opportunities. Last night in the
courtyard, I learnt that mountain biking is now the world's fastest
growing sport. This is the sort of thing that will bring tourists and the like
to Collie.
One project I am very excited about
is the mural trail. We will have a range of murals in Collie on various public
facilities. Wellington Dam is going to be one of the world's greatest
murals. I have an image in my head that could be on the wall of Wellington Dam,
and I am looking at him right now—reclining Michelangelo-style on the
wall of Wellington Dam! It is a magnificent thing to think about. It could be
Michelangelo-style or, to be more modern, Jack Thompson–style—on
the wall of Wellington Dam.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : People will
come from all over the world to see that! But in any event it will be a magnificent
mural. The thing about tourists today is that they are looking for new
experiences. Communities that renew their tourism
product often attract more people and it can generate a new industry or add to
the tourism product of Collie.
On
top of that, up to 20 jobs are being established at the Department of Mines,
Industry Regulation and Safety licensing centre in Collie. We have just opened
$8 million worth of upgrades to Collie Senior High School, spent $12 million on
the redevelopment of Collie Hospital and $5.7 million on the redevelopment of
Lake Kepwari. We do support the regions and we are making sure that important communities are receiving the
benefits. It is not just me who is saying this.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
Leader of the National Party!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have an
article here from the Collie Mail of 12 December. It states —
Liberal MLC Dr Steve Thomas said he
admired the economic diversification projects the state government had been
implemented in Collie.
''What
Alannah Mactiernan is trying to do in diversification for Collie is worthy of
support and I think she and I agree the solution (for Collie) is not one easy
answer but a larger number of smaller projects,'' he said.
That is an important endorsement by Hon
Dr Steve Thomas. I note that the week before last, an opposition member was
complaining from Bunbury about the government's commitment to Collie
and saying that we are not doing enough. The member did not actually visit
Collie to promote her criticisms. She did not take the time to drive up the hill. As the member for Collie–Preston
knows, I go there a lot. The evidence is there. This government has done more to support the Collie community than any government in memory to make sure
that it has a strong and prosperous future and a diversified economy for that
important town.
The SPEAKER : I hope that the
dam wall is big enough to fit the member for Collie–Preston's
head on it!
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