The future employment prospects of a West Australian coal town could be best served by the establishment of a multitude of smaller and more varied industries according to the owners of a business which has begun to set down roots there.
Coal mined from the south-west town of Collie has powered southern Western Australia's energy grid since the early 1950s but mining began there at the turn of that century.
The WA government recently announced a definitive timeline for its transition away from coal-fired power production and intention to close state-owned assets in Collie by 2030.
It also topped up an existing pledge toward a transition plan for the town with the kitty now sitting at $662 million going toward retraining about 1,200 workers likely to be impacted and attracting new industry to Collie.
Medicinal 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-metre greenhouse where plants will be grown for the company's medicinal and nutraceutical range for a sector industry analysts report jumped from $30 million in 2019 to $230 million by the end of 2021 with projections for continued growth.
"Once we committed to buying the block of land, we realised Collie had a lot more to offer than just well-priced properties," Mr Zakostelsky said.
"We would not have been able to build [a facility like] this in Perth, not only because land is much more expensive but there would have been many more challenges getting it approved with local government as it's fairly residential. This is a beautiful place that encourages new industry."
They predict being able to employ up to 80 workers within two years and believed being on the "ground floor" of Collie's new industry base was an exciting proposition.
"For us it is exciting because we will be producing a locally grown product for the Australian and international market," Ms Zakostelsky said.
"It will not only benefit Collie, but the whole South West region."
Mr Zakostelsky said an industry base made up of numerous and varied industries would be key to Collie's employment future.
"By having a large number of smaller businesses replacing the current big one here in Collie, it will prevent a similar situation repeating in the future," Mr Zakostelsky said.
If you can have five or 10 smaller businesses employing 50 to 100 people you would minimise the exposure to volatility in economic cycles."
Retaining workers the preferred option
Shire of Collie President Sarah Stanley said the "long lead time" afforded to Collie to attract replacement industries was ideal and that prospective businesses would ideally meet "a few criteria."
Beyond the Zakostelsky's company, other industries already to have put down roots in Collie include an autonomous driving training facility and base for an international company which tracks space junk.
With increasing demand to staff remote FIFO-type positions in the state's north, Ms Stanley said some workers would choose to pursue those positions, but the preferred option was to retain local jobs for local people.
"We are looking at industries that are at the beginning of their life cycle or showing strong demand with sustainable, long-term employment opportunities for this community," Ms Stanley said.
"For us it is very much preferable that those jobs remain in the town and are filled by people who live in the town. It is much more healthy for the community now and in the long term."
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