News, features and updates from the LVA team
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UPDATE
Thursday 18 May 2017
An update on what the Latrobe Valley Authority is doing to support workers, businesses and our community.
Economic Growth Zone boosts business in the region
Vella’s Panel Works is one of several companies benefiting from the Economic Growth Zone established in the region. The Latrobe Valley panel-beating and spray-painting business received nearly $20,000 through LVA to reimburse the fees it paid to move to a larger site in Morwell. The grant has helped the business to grow and potentially employ new staff.
Another recipient is Engineering Maintenance Solutions (EMS), which has opened a branch in the Latrobe Valley and received nearly $35,000 in fee reimbursements on the purchase of its Morwell site. The company has hired four local residents, including a former Hazelwood worker and two apprentices.
The Victorian Government offers a range of financial incentives for eligible businesses to help them expand or to set up operations in the Latrobe Valley, making it easier, faster and less costly to do business. Incentives include reimbursement of a range of state and local government fees and charges, such as land transfer duty, on commercial property purchases in the Latrobe Valley, Baw Baw and Wellington council areas.
Worker Transfer Scheme now open
All three Latrobe Valley power stations have now signed on to participate in the worker transfer scheme, which allows displaced Hazelwood workers to move to other power generators in the Latrobe Valley.
The $20 million scheme helps highly skilled Hazelwood workers remain in the local power industry by supporting the early retirement of eligible employees at other power stations.
AGL Loy Yang has called for expressions of interest from its workers interested in applying for early retirement, and a similar process will follow at ENGIE, which operates Loy Yang B, and Energy Australia, operator of Yallourn power station. Each company will recruit to fill the resulting vacancies using their usual methods and appointments will be merit-based, however operators will only receive government support if they hire displaced Hazelwood workers and contractors.
New GovHub to create jobs in the Latrobe Valley
Up to 75 Victorian Government jobs will be available to local job seekers in the next 12 months at a new GovHub office complex to be built in the Latrobe Valley. The dedicated government hub will house around 300 staff, including 150 public sector jobs.
The remaining positions will be consolidated from Melbourne – including Earth Resources Regulation staff, who will establish a new head office in the region. With mine regulation and rehabilitation a key focus, the regulator’s new head office will ensure the best local minds are working for the community. The complex also will house staff from Parks Victoria and EPA.
Construction on the complex begins next year and is expected to create a further 100 jobs before completion in mid 2020.
Online database streamlines support for workers
The team from our Worker Transition Service continues to register and support local people, including more than 330 people who have registered for support through the LVA.
The service has been extended to employees affected by the closure of the Carter Holt Harvey mill in Morwell.
LVA recently launched a central, streamlined case-management system, which means the transition team and partners such the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council, Workways, Gippsland Employment Skills Training Inc. and Federation Training’s Skills and Jobs Centre, can quickly and easily access the information and services people need through a single, online database. The streamlined case-management system enables greater collaboration between service providers and better tracking and follow-up of clients.
The Worker Transition Service offers tailored support for Hazelwood workers, contractors, supply chain businesses and their families. Professional team members assess participants needs and connect them with services to provide them the skills, training, information and personal support they need to find a new job, start a new business, move into retirement or adjust to significant change.
Supply-chain businesses plan for the future with Hazelwood grant scheme
Ten highly skilled electrical fitter armature winders are being retrained to work on explosion-proof motors commonly found in the oil and gas industry with assistance from the $5 million Hazelwood Supply Chain Transition Program.
Genertech, which is up-skilling its armature winders, is one of several local businesses awarded grants through the program to help them plan for the future, and access new sectors and markets. Other recipients include Latrobe Valley Machining and Optec, which are working with business specialists to develop and implement plans for the future.
Under the initiative, the Victorian Government provides intensive, tailored support to Latrobe Valley-based businesses in the Hazelwood supply chain, which derived at least 20 per cent of their revenue from Hazelwood and its supply chain. Consultants guide the businesses through the transition period, helping them keep industry jobs in Latrobe Valley.
Local businesses also can apply for funding through the $10 million Latrobe Valley Economic Facilitation Fund, which helps them to adopt new technology and innovative processes to sustain employment and create new jobs.
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