A trial to develp plant-based protein at a local food plant in Collie is one of eight projects to receive a share of $612,500 from the McGowan Government to diversify Collie’s economy through the $20 million Collie Futures Fund.
Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray announced funding from the Collie Futures Small Grants Program for a range of projects including an electrical store expansion, water treatment facility and an aquaculture development.
The Lupin Co, which already has a small scale plant in Collie, has received funding to trial extracting protein isolates and soluble molecules in powder form to sell to customers in Asia and for new food products in Australia and globally. This will create at least five full-time jobs in Collie plus extra supply contract work.
A new water testing facility will be built by Quantum Filtration Medium, which already operates in Collie. This new research and development laboratory will enable the company to develop new products and business streams, and create five new local jobs.
The Collie Retired Mineworkers’ Association has also received funding for a bronze sculpture of a pit pony to be built on the corner of Throssell Street and Collie-Mumballup Road. The project will enhance the existing sculpture tribute to early coal mining operations and encourage tourists to walk up Throssell Street to the visitor’s centre and increase spending at local businesses along one of Collie’s main arteries.
Funding has also been awarded to Collie Electrical Services to enable an electrical store to create a new retail front, enabling new job opportunities for the town centre.
Aquatic Life Industries has received a grant to explore the potential for a new freshwater aquaculture project in Collie. The feasibility study will investigate the potential for producing rainbow trout and other freshwater fish species in Collie.
Funding has been allocated for technical reports required to rezone an area of land for an industrial development, supporting the provision of general industrial land in the area, which could lead to a series of business opportunities.
Living Legacy will receive funding to support their unique way of remembering loved ones after they’ve died. Using biotech soils with cremated ash to nourish trees in their existing Collie forest, funding will be used to support planning and infrastructure for the site.
The $2 million Collie Futures Small Grants Program and $18 million Collie Futures Industry Development Fund are part of the wider Collie Futures Fund, working to stimulate economic development and diversification.
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As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The McGowan Government continues to deliver on its commitment to transition Collie to a more sustainable economy and we are working to increase jobs across a range of industries to reduced reliance on any one sector, making the economy more resilient to change.
“From a nature-based tour business to the southern hemisphere’s first Caterpillar autonomous technology training facility, the Collie Futures Fund has supported a diverse range and scale of projects which are playing critical roles in helping to forge new frontiers.
“The latest projects to be allocated funding will not only aid in diversifying the economy and supporting jobs but also assist in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray:
“Even while we continue to move forward in order to diversify Collie’s economy we need to be able to celebrate and highlight what has allowed this community to thrive for more than a century.
“I must congratulate these businesses for embracing change and different technologies as we work towards Collie’s future industries.
“The expansion of local Collie businesses shows the ingenuity we want to embrace in order to support Collie through the Collie Futures Small Grants Program.”
