UPDATE

Wednesday 19 December 2018

Message from the CEO

As we round out another year, it's great to reflect on what we've learnt and how far we've come as a community with a strong sense of pride and optimism for things to come in 2019.

Whilst maintaining our commitment to responding to immediate needs of local workers and businesses, work is accelerating to set up our region for the future.

With huge growth in the health and new energy industries locally, our leading minds in business, education, and government are working together to identify all opportunities to capitalise on our strengths and gain a competitive advantage.

Complementing this, GROW Gippsland is now well underway helping Gippsland businesses and organisations buy more goods and services locally to keep spending in our region and create jobs.

With a number of major events coming to the Latrobe Valley in 2019, we are working closely with Destination Gippsland to maximise opportunities for tourism and attract visitors to stay and explore everything Latrobe Valley and Gippsland has to offer.

There are also further programs planned in 2019 to assist all of our community to find fulfilling employment and get involved in community life.

On behalf of the team at LVA, I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and I look forward to sharing further updates and good news with you in 2019.

New electric vehicle factory for the Valley

Work is now underway to set-up a new electric vehicle factory in the Latrobe Valley – creating 500 jobs.

The new facility will be able to manufacture 2,400 vehicles per year including assembly of the cab, battery pack and electric motor into a basic truck chassis and fit the electronic infrastructure.

The massive new facility will allow SEA to boost production of electric delivery vans and minibuses to meet growing demand across Australia.

Workers transitioning from other industries will also get the chance to work on these electric cars, with SEA working closely with Latrobe Valley Authority’s Worker Transition Service.

The company is already recruiting local workers, with five already undertaking roles at it to fill roles at its existing facility in Dandenong while its Latrobe Valley factory is being built.

Getting involved in GROW

Aboriginal organisations in Gippsland learnt last week about opportunities to be involved in the delivery of the Avon River Bridge project as part of the Gippsland Rail Line Upgrade facilitated by Rail Projects Victoria.

GROW Gippsland is working to maximise local employment opportunities and benefit the economy from major infrastructure projects such as these.

To find out more about GROW Gippsland click here, or follow @growgippsland on Facebook to keep up to date.

Works underway at Budgeree Hall

Budgeree Hall is being refurbished inside and out after receiving a $111,218 grant from the LVA's Community and Facility Fund.

The Hall will get new heating and cooling, a kitchen upgrade, acoustic installation, painting inside and out, and a new covered deck area.

Solar upgrades completed as part of DELWP's Solar on Public Buildings program will bring energy bills down - helping ensure the Hall can run sustainably into the future.

To view the full list of recently approved grants click here, or check out projects happening in your area at lva.vic.gov.au//projects

Growth for PineGro

LVA has been pleased to support Morwell-based PineGro Products purchase additional land adjacent to their current site by reimbursing stamp duty costs through the Economic Growth Zone.

PineGro manufacture and market landscape and garden products throughout Australia, and their expansion is expected to lead to increased turnover and result in the creation of 3-5 new machinery and heavy equipment operator jobs.

For more information on how the Latrobe Valley Authority is supporting business visit lva.vic.gov.au

Countdown to Big Bash at Moe

Just over one month to go until cricket’s Big Bash League lands in the Latrobe Valley for an in-season match between Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers at Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve.

The match comes as part of a three-year partnership between the Stars and LVA to bring events and community programs to the region through the State Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative.

Tickets for the 23 January BBL blockbuster can be purchased through ticketek.com

First look at Cricket Centre of Excellence

Local contractors, LANGDEN Constructions and JJC Design P/L have won the tender for design and construction of the new Gippsland Regional Cricket Centre of Excellence at Ted Summerton Reserve in Moe

It will include a state of the art indoor training centre incorporating 5 training wickets, using cutting edge technology to facilitate high-level coaching and player education, a 4 wicket natural turf outdoor training centre and additional storage.

Latrobe Valley Authority contributed $3 million towards the project under the Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative, while a $500,000 funding boost from Sport and Recreation Victoria brought the total funding for the centre to $3.5 million.

Click here to subscribe to the Major Recreation Projects monthly newsletter to stay up to date with infrastructure projects being rolled out as part of the LVA's Sports and Community Initiative.

The LVA office will remain open throughout the Christmas and New Year period apart from the following public holidays:

Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2018
Boxing Day - Wednesday 26 December 2018
New Years Day - Tuesday 1 January 2019