The McGowan Government is charging ahead with work to diversify Collie's economy, with major milestones for three projects set to create more than 400 permanent industrial jobs in the town.
Collie is step closer today to becoming home to Western Australia's first mine-to-market graphite producer, with the opening of International Graphite's new processing facility in the Collie Light Industrial Area.
The facility - supported by a $2 million grant from the McGowan Government's Collie Futures Industry Development Fund - includes pilot-scale and research equipment to support International Graphite as it moves towards full commercial graphite operations.
Development of the graphite plant will see local manufacturing of graphite products for new technologies used in mobile phones, computers, sealants, and building materials.
The plant - already engaging 30 local suppliers and contractors - is expected to employ more than 40 full-time staff as production increases.
It comes as the McGowan Government recently announced new funding for two industrial projects to drive local jobs in Collie.
Quantum Filtration Medium will receive $2 million to build a new manufacturing plant in the Collie Light Industrial Area, to supercharge production of its in-demand water treatment systems.
This follows a $100,000 Collie Futures Small Grant to Quantum Filtration Medium in 2020, which supported the company to establish a research and development laboratory in Collie.
The expansion project is expected to almost double Quantum Filtration Medium's local workforce.
A further investment of almost $2 million from the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund will support Magnium Australia to move forward with the detailed feasibility stage for its proposed carbon neutral magnesium metal refinery.
Magnium Australia is working to establish the world's most energy efficient and low emissions magnesium metal refinery in Collie.
A pre-feasibility study - supported with $280,000 of co-funding from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund - highlighted Collie as an ideal location for the project.
The new funding for Magnium Australia will build on a study underway by the Water Corporation into the provision of magnesium hydroxide feedstock as a by-product of desalination.
At full scale, the Magnium refinery is expected to employ around 350 permanent workers, as well as creating more than 400 jobs in construction.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"My Government is getting on with diversifying Collie's economy and creating new, long-term local jobs for workers.
"Projects like the Magnium refinery and International Graphite facility put Collie at the forefront of value-adding and emerging new industries in Australia.
"Collie has a bright future - and key to this future are the new industries we are helping to establish in Collie."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"When we launched the industry attraction funding programs for Collie, we opened the doors to new business and industry.
"Our efforts to attract companies to Collie are paying off - placing Collie at the very forefront of industry.
"Exciting initiatives - real game-changers for Collie, and the wider region - are taking shape that are building the foundations for future jobs."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
"Collie is open for business.
"State Government support is available for projects that contribute to a strong future for Collie - with a diverse economy and local jobs - for local people - in a range of industry sectors."
