Construction has started on the McGowan Government's Peel Business Park, a key part of the Transform Peel initiative which aims to create 33,000 new jobs in the region by 2050.
Lands Minister Ben Wyatt today announced the awarding of two civil works contracts totalling $7.3 million to a locally based company, Wormall Civil.
Headquartered in the Peel region, Wormall Civil will complete the first major civil works, including the earthworks for the Stage 1 land development, and installation of underground power works.
This critical trunk-servicing infrastructure is the first step in creating the business park which is designed to deliver major economic opportunities and jobs for the Peel region.
In total the infrastructure works are expected to create more than 300 jobs, with a further 160 permanent operational workforce jobs for the Peel region once the McGowan Government's 120 hectare development area is fully operational.
Once fully completed, the Peel Business Park, which is a flagship project of the Industrial Land Authority, will create about 2,000 local jobs and inject about $1 billion into the Western Australian economy each year.
The first 11 lots in Stage 1 are now available for purchase with five lots already under offer, demonstrating strong interest from a mix of agribusinesses and industrial companies wanting to relocate or start new businesses at the park.
Wormall Civil was procured using the newly developed Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy. This strategy aims to provide local businesses with full, fair and reasonable opportunity to access and win State Government supply contracts.
As part of the long-term strategy, the McGowan Government has renewed calls for businesses located within the Peel region to register with the State's land development agency to be considered for upcoming other contracts associated with the delivery of the Peel Business Park.
The Peel Business Park is one of three components of the Transform Peel initiative. The other two components are the Peel Food Zone and the Peel Integrated Water Initiative.
As stated by Lands Minister Ben Wyatt:
"The awarding of the work to Wormall Civil underlines the McGowan Government's commitment to local content, and delivering opportunities for Western Australian businesses and the creation of new jobs.
"Wormall Civil is playing a pioneering part in the development of the Peel Business Park at Nambeelup, which will kickstart an agribusiness and innovation hub that is expected to deliver major economic opportunities and jobs for the Peel region."
As stated by Mandurah MLA David Templeman:
"Transform Peel has been developed as a long-term program to support economic growth, diversification and jobs creation in the Peel.
"It contributes to addressing the region's rapid population growth rate, high unemployment, and transition from a population-driven economy to an export-traded economy.
"We are now seeing tangible evidence of the Transform Peel project moving off the drawing board and into physical, on-site activities, representing exciting milestones in this transformational project."
As stated by Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
"Construction of the Peel Business Park will create jobs for locals, reinforce servicing infrastructure and attract new investment and services to the Peel region.
"After years of the Peel Business Park being talked about but nothing happening under the previous government, it is fantastic to see the McGowan Government moving forward with this initiative and creating jobs for locals throughout the region."
