COLLIE FUTURES INDUSTRY
DEVELOPMENT FUND
1095. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Regional Development:
I
refer to the minister's answer to question without notice 1029 and the
associated tabled paper 956, which presents some highly optimistic numbers of
anticipated job creation under the Collie industry attraction and development
fund.
(1) Please provide the modelling that suggests that
148 jobs will be created under the Wellington Dam National Park
infrastructure program.
(2) Please
provide the modelling that suggests that 69 jobs will be created under the
Collie Trails program.
(3) Please
provide the modelling that suggests that 33 jobs will be created under the
Wayfinding and Tourism Amenities in Collie Township program.
(4) Given that
the Collie Department of Fire and Emergency Services multipurpose facility was
opened on 22 October 2021, can the minister confirm that none of the claimed
130 construction jobs are ongoing; therefore, this investment will provide only
nine long-term jobs, of which, as of last week, only four were under
recruitment?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
I would strongly suggest that one weekend he actually goes down to Collie and
he absolutely has a look at how that town is booming —
Hon Dr Steve Thomas
interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order!
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN: —
and look at the amount of economic activity and the number of visitors who are
coming to the town.
(1)–(3) The
direct job estimates are based on information contained in the project business
cases and funding agreements. In addition to these direct jobs, flow-on
economic benefits are expected to be realised through longer term jobs created in the tourism sector, as well as the result of
visitor numbers and increased visitor spend.
(4) The 130
construction jobs were created over an 11-month construction phase of the
project. We do not keep constructing the
project. I think it is pretty evident that when it is built, it is built. It
has been built and there were 130 local construction jobs. As of 6
December 2021, there are 10 permanent full-time workers at the Department of
Fire and Emergency Services multipurpose facility in Collie, with one new staff
member commencing yesterday.