Study into South West manufacturing hub

An advanced manufacturing hub in the South West is one step closer to becoming a reality, with the State Government committing $485,000 towards a feasibility study. The hub would see the region benefit from better access to infrastructure, technology, training and research, and is expected to boost business capability and capacity to develop new supply chains. Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said WA needed to mobilise to create jobs of the 21st century. “We have got a manufacturing sector that has largely grown out of giving support to the mining industry and we think there is enormous potential for us to take this a step further,” Ms MacTiernan said. Ms MacTiernan said the facility could see the region manufacture wind turbines, which would be a first for WA. “Western Australia is becoming very much a centre for wind power and we’ve seen massive take up of wind energy and that will only get bigger,” she said. “As part of our focus on advanced manufacturing and regional development, We see it as very possible that the manufacturing of wind turbines could be part of manufacturing hub that we are looking at.” The facility is expected to support hundreds of future jobs, with Australian Manufacturing Workers Union State secretary Steve McCartney saying the training would help tradesmen and apprentices adapt to industry changes. “We need to be in the upstream of our primary industries and make sure we’re manufacturing the bits that make those machinery work so we can make sure our economy works.,” he said. “Building capacity in the South West, building good, 21st century jobs ... is the only way forward for the State.” Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the region was ideally placed to host an advanced manufacturing hub. “Worldwide industry is changing, technology is coming into play so there’s a lot more research and design, and the skill levels of the people who are working in manufacturing are changing as well,” he said. Geographe Enterprises executive chair Clayton Hyder said as a manufacturer, he believed the project would see a refresh in technology. “I expect some of the market segments that are under serviced or serviced by overseas equipment will be identified and we’d like to obviate that imported product with locally made product,” he said. South West Development Commission chief executive Mellisa Teede said there would be exciting opportunities as the study moved forward over the next 18 months. “The next steps are to procure a consultancy team to undertake the body of work with ongoing input and support from the Commission and our steering group partners,” she said.