Achievements of Collie's Just Transition

Since Collie’s Just Transition has begun, the WA Government has committed over $40 million to support tourism initiatives and infrastructure in the region, contributing to visitor numbers in Collie increasing by over 73%.

With several tourism projects including the iconic Wellington Dam mural and adventure trails continuing to receive significant interest, it is expected these numbers will continue to rise, which means Collie is facing high demand for new accommodation, and food and beverage offerings.

The Collie Tourism Prospectus showcases the opportunities available now and into the future, and invites tourism operators to learn more about how they can become part of Collie’s tourism evolution.

Read more about the new Collie Tourism Prospectus here. 

New job opportunities continue to be created for Collie, with eight new positions at the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's (DEMIRS) Collie Licensing Hub. This brings the total number of jobs at the hub to nineteen.

The eight new jobs will streamline services to meet WA’s growing demand for occupational licences and workers in the building industries. With responsibility for processing licence applications from across the State, the new staff will provide additional support for electricians, gas fitters, plumbers and a range of dangerous goods workers.

The WA Government committed $300,000 to establish the DEMIRS Licensing centre in Collie in 2020, and is part of the State’s plan for the local region's future prosperity.

The WA Government has committed $100,000 to Murdoch University which will support the demonstration a low carbon product called Colliecrete at the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
The demonstration project follows an investigation into the feasibility of using coal power station ash waste, industrial by-products and waste materials as ingredients in geopolymer concrete.

A $18 million pilot plant is currently under construction in Collie, to produce high-purity magnesium metal in Collie's Light Industrial Area.

The pilot plant - supported by a $5 million grant from the WA Government – will enable commercial scale testing of the CSIRO-developed technology and offer transitioning workers a rare opportunity to gain exposure to next-generation technologies and skills.

Subject to the completion of the detailed feasibility study, supported by an additional $2 million, the full-scale magnesium refinery is planned to commence operations in Collie in the coming years.

A pre-feasibility study – supported with $280,000 of co-funding – highlighted Collie as an ideal location for the project.
 

The sustainably operated steel mill would see WA scrap steel to produce green steel reinforcing bars for wide-scale consumption and export. Powered by renewable energy, the plant is set to be Australia’s most efficient and environmentally friendly steel mill.

The WA Government will provide $2.7 million to support Green Steel to move ahead with the bankable feasibility study to determine the best way forward in bringing Collie’s steel mill to life. 

The CBESS will be Synergy’s third Battery Energy Storage System and one of the biggest in the world, providing around 500 Megawatts (MW) or 2000 Megawatt hours (MWh) of power when fully charged.

Learn more about what the Collie battery project could mean for Collie’s future by tuning in to the Collie Just Transition Podcast, where a dedicated discussion touches on all you need to know.

Read more on the WA Government’s commitment of over $1 billion for battery infrastructure in both Collie and Kwinana.

This follows a $100,000 Collie Futures Small Grant to Quantum Filtration Medium in 2020, which supported the company to establish a research and development laboratory in Collie. The expansion project is expected to almost double Quantum Filtration Medium’s local workforce.

The new Wellington Dam walkway across the 367m dam wall provides walkers a sensational fresh angle of Guido van Helten's iconic artwork 'Reflections', while allowing access to complete the five-day, fournight 87 kilometre Wiilman Bilya Trail that starts and finishes in Collie, circling Wellington Dam.

It forms part of the Reflections Trail, which when finished will include new boardwalks and lookout points for wheelchairs and prams, providing access to experience the sweeping views from the top of the dam down the Collie River Valley.

The walkway is part of the $10 million Collie Adventure Trails initiative, which was developed to help establish the town as a premier trail and adventure destination and create new local jobs as Collie continues its transition to a sustainable future.

Learn more at the Explore Parks WA website.

The team offers services and advice on building resumes, upskilling, retraining for new careers, and more The centrewill also be home to South Regional TAFE’s Training Transition Team, who will provide free skills assessments and training plans for local workers that will be directly impacted in the coming years. Local businesses can also find specialist support for their training needs, address skills gaps and identify training solutions, and work with the centre to help recognise future opportunities to upskill workers.

Collie Jobs and Skills Centre Manager Natalie Cook unpacked all the opportunities for Collie as part of the opening in an episode of the Collie Just Transition Podcast. For more information or to contact the Collie Jobs and Skills Centre, visit the website. 
The opening of the centre is part of the wider WA Government’s initiative to help provide opportunities for workers and the community in Collie and ensure there continues to be well-paid, local, jobs in the region. Jobs and Skills Centre expansion was supported by $12 million from the WA Government, followed by an additional $6.3 million to secure the centre a dedicated offsite training facility in Collie.

Formerly an open-cut coalmine, Lake Kepwari boasts a dual lane boat ramp, designated parking for boat trailers, and sealed accessible pathways throughout the site, transforming the picturesque destination into a water-based tourism hub perfect for boating, waterskiing, swimming, camping, and picnicking.

The new facilities at Lake Kepwari are part of the larger $23.3 million investment in infrastructure for parks and forests in the Collie region.

The new facilities at Lake Kepwari will help drive tourism to the region, and complement other tourism offerings including the mega mural at Wellington Dam, and mountain bike, walk trails and drive trails through the Collie River Valley and Ferguson Valley.

Learn more about the camping facilities by visiting the Explore Parks WA website.

A celebration of the rich history that inspired the mural art in the town of Collie.

Collie and the local historical characters that have inspired artworks featured across the town’s iconic Mural Trail have been celebrated in this short documentary-style film.

Inspired by the creative journey of the artworks completed by the artists Jacob ‘Shakey’ Butler and Donald Cook, the film, produced by Western Australia’s own Why Stories, shines the light on the characters depicted in the murals, and the richness of Collie’s industrial history.

To learn more about the Collie Mural Trail, colliemuraltrail.com.

Collie’s iconic Replica Underground Coal Mine experience has undergone a revamp to cater for the growing number of tourists, as the town emerges as an attractive tourist destination.

The upgrade allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in what could be described as some of WA’s most dangerous and historic working conditions and learn about Collie's story in a new way.

The heritage experience, which combines modern multimedia projections with traditional museum displays, allows visitors to witness a life-like underground mine blast experienced by the generations of Collie coal workers.

Supported by $899,000 from the WA Government, the upgraded experience provides the unique opportunities for visitors to visualise and celebrate Collie’s rich history.

For more information, including opening times for self-guided tours or to book a guided tour with a former mine worker, visit the Collie Visitor Centre website.

With the EOI process aimed at starting the conversation with business and large-scale industrial projects that can help expand the region’s economy as it transitions away from its reliance on the coal sector.

Leveraging off Collie’s existing industry advantages such as the skilled workforce, the Fund has been developed to attract projects in three priority sectors – green manufacturing and minerals processing, energy intensive industries, and future clean energy industries. The initiative supports the highly skilled energy sector workers impacted by the staged retirement of State-owned coal power stations by 2029.

Forming part of the $547.4 million Collie Transition Package announced in June 2022, the WA Government encourages any interested businesses to learn more about the Collie Industrial Transition Fund here.

The Collie Mural Trail is an expansive outdoor art gallery, connecting Wellington Dam with Collie’s town centre. The trail tells stories about the Collie River Valley’s living heritage – focussing on strong voices from local people and places.

The $1.5 million trail project is one of the Collie region’s most popular tourist attractions.

Part of the trail includes a mega mural of more than 8,000-square metres which adorns the wall of the Wellington Dam.

Affectionately known as the biggest dam mural in the world, the artwork was created by world-renowned Australian artist Guido van Helten, who consulted with the community, listened to their stories about the area and looked through their family photo albums to draw inspiration to create a design that represented the community.

A series of smaller murals painted by Western Australian artists creates a trail throughout the Collie town that encourages visitors to walk around and support local businesses.

The State Government worked with local Aboriginal leaders, the Shire of Collie, local businesses and the broader community over the course of the project.

To find out more about the murals, visit the Collie Mural Trail website. 

The Collie Adventure Trails is establishing Collie as a premier trail adventure town with 100kms of mountain bike trails and infrastructure.

The $10 million Collie Adventure Trails initiative will establish Collie as a premier ‘trail adventure town’ to attract local, national and international mountain bike and bushwalking tourists, and support the local economy.

Construction of some of WA’s most impressive mountain bike infrastructure is underway including construction of over 100km of mountain bike trails and supporting infrastructure, realignment of the Mundi Biddi Mountain Bike Trail into Collie, development of Collie as a ‘Trail Town’ and a ‘Trail Centre’ in Wellington National Park.

The Arklow Trail Network, which links Collie with the Harris Dam, is already complete with works on further trails due for completion within the next two years.

The initiative will develop new trails and facilities that will showcase the area’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage, and make a significant economic contribution to the region.

Visit TrailsWA for more information.

The Kaneang Wiilman Suspension Bridge crosses over the Collie River on the Wiilman Bilya walking trail. 

The 90-metre bridge was built with a unique stress-ribbon design, using large steel cables to suspend the bridge in the air without traditional support towers.

Named to acknowledge the Kaneang and Wiilman people whose traditional country lies to the north, south and east of Collie, the bridge is a modern reimagining of a rope swing bridge that is lively and swings when walked on.

The bridge’s concrete footings feature a mural by local artist Natalie Veal, which depicts local plants and animals and a geometric pattern that represents the natural and cultural connections that exist in this ancient landscape. The blue lines represent the above-ground water table, while the thick white lines are the dividing lines between the different Willman tribes.

The bridge also forms a key part of the 72-kilometre five-day, four-night Wiilman Bilya Walk Trail currently under construction around Wellington Dam.  

Lake Kepwari is fast becoming one of the South West’s premier tourism destinations.

The State Government committed $5.2 million to develop Lake Kepwari as a recreational tourist destination and water sports events facility, as part of its plan to diversify Collie’s economy and create local jobs in the region.

The lake is a former open-cut coal mine which was operated by Premier Coal for several decades.

In November 2018, plans to complete the rehabilitation of the area were approved, with earthworks carried out before it was handed over to the State.

Development of recreational infrastructure including areas for swimming, camping and water-skiing was completed and opened for visitors in December 2020.

Visit the Parks and Wildlife Service for more information.

WesTrac Technology Training Centre is only the second in the world focusing on training people in the technical skills of operating autonomous equipment for use in the resources sector.

The demand for this across the world is rising, putting Collie at the forefront as a leading player in industry training.

The training offers opportunities for Collie workers looking to upskill, as well as flow-on benefits for the local economy as people come to stay in town for the duration of their training.

The facility at the Coolangatta Industrial Estate, near the Bluewaters power station, will attract technicians from resource companies from other Australian states and the wider Asia-Pacific region once borders reopen.

The WA Government contributed over $2.7 million from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund, which is aimed at diversifying Collie's economy and creating jobs.

The landowner, Bluewaters Farm Holdings, was awarded $777,650 to develop the industrial land to facilitate the centre and WesTrac received $2 million to establish the autonomous training facility.

The new facility complements Collie's rich history as an industrial hub and builds its capability for mining equipment, technology and services.

The Western Australian Government provided $1.1 million from the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund to the Shire of Collie to repair and upgrade the façades of 11 buildings.

Premier Mark McGowan officially opened the Throssell Street revitalisation works, which feature nostalgic elements including bullnose verandas, ornate detailing and hand-painted signwriting.

The town of Collie is experiencing a tourism boom since the completion of WA Government-funded projects, including the Collie Mural Trail, Lake Kepwari and the Arklow mountain bike trails.

The town has seen record-breaking numbers of tourists in recent times, with a 73 per cent increase in visitation recorded as a result of the targeted investment.

It is hoped the upgraded streetscape will encourage tourists to spend time walking around town supporting local businesses.

The work is in line with the WA Government’s commitment to Collie’s Just Transition Plan, which supports a diversification of new industries as Collie transitions from a reliance on the coal industry.

Collie is set to become home to WA’s first graphite processing plant, backed by a $2 million grant from the State Government.

Western Australian based company International Graphite will establish the new micronising and graphite foil manufacturing facility in Collie’s light industrial area.

The first stage of the project is expected to create around 40 full-time jobs for people in Collie and the surrounding region, with plans to expand the facility to add manufacturing capability… Read more. 

Collie is home to the $13.4 million Koolinup Emergency Services Centre, a facility created to manage complex emergencies in the South-West. 

The Centre is a base for an emergency driver training school for DFES staff and emergency service volunteers, and also functions as the State's first regionally-based Level 3 Incident Control Centre during major emergencies. 

Construction of the centre created 130 jobs in the region, with the contract awarded to South West-based construction company Perkins Builders, which also sourced about 70 per cent of the building materials, contractors and supply chains from Collie and South-West based businesses. 

Koolinup ESC underpins the State Government's investment in Collie's transformation into an emergency services vehicle manufacturing hub.

Site works have begun on a medicinal cannabis facility delivering job opportunities for local trade contractors.

Cannaponics Limited is building a new commercial cultivation, extraction, processing and distribution facility to compete in the rapidly growing medicinal cannabis industry.

The State Government has allocated $2 million from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund to support the project.