IT’S time to pull out all the stops to lock down the highly anticipated Collie coal-to-urea project before it slips through WA’s fingers.
This was the urgent call from the Miners Union today in the face of job uncertainty across the South West.
CFMEU Mining and Energy WA secretary Gary Wood said the “massive” fertiliser plant would give confidence to workers and job security into the future.
“This is exactly the kind of project our state needs,” Mr Wood said.
“It is a high-value, high-tech project that would deliver long-term benefits to the state, in terms of jobs, innovation, economic stimulus and tax revenue.
“Importantly, it would also be a boost to our coal mining sector and provide job security for a new generation of mineworkers.”
This is exactly the kind of project our state needs.
- CFMEU Mining and Energy WA secretary Gary Wood
The call comes on the same day that WA Labor leader Mark McGowan visited Bunbury to spruik the opposition’s plan to deliver jobs across the state’s regions by diversifying economies.
“As the mining industry begins to slow down, it’s important that we diversify local economies and provide new employment opportunities for people living in regional WA,” Mr McGowan said.
“We will address this problem by ensuring Royalties For Regions focuses on expanding opportunities for people in the regions.
“The flow-on effects of this will provide a boost to local economies and drive future growth across regional WA.”
Mr Wood said all stakeholders, including the coal mine operators and government, must work together to resolve the issue of long-term coal supply to the proposed urea plant.
Bunbury MLA John Castrilli said it was disappointing that the project had not moved ahead as it would have created a large number of jobs during construction and operation and millions has been spent on local infrastructure in anticipation of it being built.
“As I understand it, because the parties involved weren’t able to come to an agreement on the coal supply, Perdaman is now looking at other options, which is disappointing for the whole region,” Mr Castrilli said.
In September last year it was reported that Perdaman had threatened to move the project to Victoria.
Mr Wood said if coal supply could be shared between the two coal mine operators in Collie – Yancoal and Griffin – it would guarantee supply and be real boost for WA jobs.
“The state government should play whatever role it can to bring people together and wrap this deal up,” he said.
“At a time of uncertainty in the resources sector, it would be real blow to Western Australia if an arrangement can’t be made to supply coal so that this project can go ahead in our state.”
The stalled Perdaman project would turn nearly three million tonnes of coal into fertiliser each year for export to Asian markets.