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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 251 asked in the Legislative Council on 21 March 2019 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

RENEWABLE ENERGY — COLLIE

251. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the Minister for Energy:

(1) Is the government working on a comprehensive strategy to transition out of coal to renewables for power generation?

(2) If yes to (1), when is it expected to be completed?

(3) If no to (1), why not?

(4) Is the government working with the residents of Collie and the surrounding areas, who will be impacted by the transition to renewables, in order to develop a plan for continuing employment options; and, if yes, please provide detail of what has been done to date?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. As that question asks about detail, it is quite a long answer; I am just warning you, Madam President. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for Energy.

(1) It is now well recognised that a major transformation is underway in the electricity sector. Newer technologies, such as rooftop solar, large-scale wind and solar farms, and battery storage are increasingly displacing energy supplied from traditional thermal generation sources, such as coal and gas-fired power stations. This is happening regardless of government policy.

The McGowan government has three key bodies of work to ensure this transition is managed. Firstly, it has a ''Whole of System Plan'' to take a structured, coordinated approach to planning, developing and investing in our power systems, bringing together key players to deliver a shared vision. Secondly, it has a distributed energy resources roadmap to guide the integration of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage and energy management systems and, in future, other technologies like electric vehicles. Thirdly, it has an economic development plan for the Collie–Bunbury region, which identifies opportunities for attracting a diverse range of industries to Collie and provides a just transition plan for Collie workers.

(2) The ''Whole of System Plan'' will be delivered in mid-2020. The DER roadmap will be delivered by the end of this year. The EDPCB will be delivered later this year.

(3) Not applicable.

(4) Yes. The McGowan government is undertaking significant work to diversify the economic opportunities in the Collie region so that we can create more jobs for local people to help maintain the community into the future. An economic development plan is being developed, which includes exploration of emerging industries, expansion of existing industries and opportunities for attracting new industries to industrial land in the region. In undertaking this, members of the ministerial steering committee for the economic development plan for the Collie and Bunbury regions have attended community meetings and meetings with workers and unions, as well as engaging leaders from the local community in structured working groups. Already, the Collie Futures small grants program and the Collie Futures industry development fund have attracted significant interest from prospective investors in Collie. Through the new, four-year $18 million industry development fund, announced on 18 January 2019, the government will provide individual grants of up to $2 million in financial support to companies establishing or expanding their operations to create more job opportunities for local people. The government has already provided $900 000 towards feasibility studies and other funding support for 11 projects through the small grants program, which will kickstart new opportunities in tourism, agriculture and aquaculture and industries of the future.

Through these initiatives, the government will identify new industry, employment and training opportunities, and diversify the economic opportunities in Collie so that we can create more jobs for local people to help maintain the community into the future.