UPDATE

Wednesday 21 June 2017

An update on what the Latrobe Valley Authority is doing to support workers, businesses and our community.

Economic Growth Zone supports Vella’s move to bigger workshop

In December 2000, Mr Vella realised his dream when he rolled up the door at his first professional workshop – Vella’s Panel Works in Morwell – as the owner and sole employee.

Sixteen years later, Vella’s Panel Works is a thriving business with eight employees, including three panel beaters and two painters working on between 10 and 20 cars each week. Business has grown considerably in the past five years driven by a strong demand for high-quality insurance company work.

To accommodate the growth, Vella’s Panel Works recently relocated to 21 Alexanders Road, Morwell – a few doors down from its original location. This site has a bigger office, on a bigger block and a much larger shed in which to work.

The move was assisted by a Latrobe Valley Authority grant available under the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Zone. The initiative, which is designed to make it easier, faster and less costly to do business in the Latrobe Valley, means businesses such as Mr Vella’s may be eligible for grants to help expand their business. Help is also available for businesses wishing to set up operations in the area.

Recruitment in process for the Worker Transfer Scheme

Applications for positions in the power station and mine at Loy Yang A are now open, following the completion of the expression of interest process for existing workers interested in early retirement. 

Worker Transition Service staff have been closely assisting many clients to support them to apply for these roles, which close this week and next week.

This week Engie have also opened applications for positions at Loy Yang B. Energy Australia, operator of the Yallourn power station, are likely to commence this process shortly.

All three Latrobe Valley power stations are participating in the Worker Transfer Scheme, which helps highly skilled Hazelwood workers remain in the local power industry by supporting the early retirement of eligible employees at other power stations.

A successful business networking event was held last Friday, which aimed to support local suppliers, encourage collaboration and improve tender prospects to bid for the $5 million Home Energy Upgrade Program.

Almost 50 local businesses attended the event to learn more about the tender process, which involves energy efficiency upgrade work on 1,000 low income households across the Baw Baw, Latrobe City and Wellington shires.

The Program aims to ensure that upgrades are delivered to local low-income households, who can receive up to $4,500 worth of energy efficiency improvements, including solar panels, solar water heaters, lighting replacements and more.

Builders urged to sign up to the CSR

Builders in the Latrobe Valley are being urged to ensure they’re eligible for government projects by signing up to the Construction Supplier Register (CSR), which streamlines the tender process by pre-assessing the eligibility of suppliers for construction works and services.

The CSR is a prequalification scheme for building contractors and consultants interested in getting work through Victorian Government departments and agencies.

Prequalification does not guarantee suppliers will be chosen for projects – but businesses can be selected from the register to compete for contracts with the final outcome determined through a rigorous value-for-money assessment.

Contractors and consultants can apply for prequalification online at dtf.vic.gov.au/csr

Moe to benefit from GEST Latrobe Community Hub 

Gippsland Employment Skills Training Inc. (GEST) has received $34,943 from the LVA’s Community Facility Fund to help establish the Latrobe Community Hub in the old Moe Library. 

For 20 years, GEST has delivered training free-of-charge to thousands of Latrobe Valley clients, including pre-accredited training funded by Adult Community and Further Education, and non-accredited training, such as digital literacy and work-readiness programs. It also is supporting 120 former Hazelwood workers referred through LVA’s Worker Transition Service, and anticipates this number may grow to 300 or more.

The LVA grant will help to upgrade the facilities, paying for room dividers to replace the old wooden library shelves and create a more flexible and user-friendly space. It covers lockable storage so clients can securely stow their belongings, smart boards and 13 new computers, replacing hand-me-down computers that regularly break down. It also will create a meeting place for local community groups who require space and community interaction. 

The $20 million Community Facility Fund is designed to make local towns more desirable places to live, work and visit, attracting people and jobs to the region.