Collie River Valley Bulletin, January 20, 2022

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EDITION No. 66

Thursday, January 20, 2022

$2.50

Muja transition:

Upskilling for 60 as deadline looms SHIRLEY FULFILLS ALAN’S DREAM

TWENTY-TWO percent of Muja Power Station’s workforce has upskilled in preparation for the staged closure of two of four operating units from October. Of the 271-strong workforce, 60 employees have completed formal qualifications and of those two have diversified their skills and chosen to move to the gas side of Synergy’s operations, according to Synergy’s manager of thermal generation, Mick Hill. “We now have a 60-year-old operator who has formal qualifications which have opened new opportunities for him,” Mr Hill said. “He said he had to learn how to learn again and, with support, he was able to do so. So basically, he is set to continue until he is ready to retire.” Mr Hill said the company started planning the transition of its workforce in August, 2019 as part of the Just Transition process. This process focuses on the

period from 2021- 2025 with the primary goal of supporting affected workers and communities in the transition away from emissions-intensive industries. Mr Hill said he is committed to ensuring staff affected by changes are provided with new opportunities, not only through the WA Government’s Just Transition Plan. “Our senior people have worked with the unions,” Mr Hill said. “We also got an on-site group of 42 volunteers, plus eight to 10 senior people together, and when we looked around at the people in that room, we realised we had about 1500 years of experience in there. “We didn’t want to waste all that experience.” Although there will be a reduction in the size of the workforce at Muja, the power station will be required to continue operating for another 10 to 12 years. Continued page 20

Heated pool push MORE than 600 people signed a petition last week calling for a local indoor swimming pool to be built. - Page 3

$2.5m. spend up OVER $2.5 million was spent during Collie Chamber of Commerce’s Buy Local Christmas shopping competition. - Page 6

Changes at Bulletin

PUBLISHED: Shirley Worroll has achievEd a long time dream of her late husband, Alan, by having her book “The Gumnut Brothers and the Gnome” published. See story page 20.

THERE have been staff changes at the Bulletin, including the arrival of a new advertising and administration consultant. - Page 7


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