Victoria

In a press statement, the state government of Victoria has announced that it is giving young people and those reskilling from other sectors experience and opportunities in Victoria’s booming rail industry. On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan met the first intake of signalling cadets at the Newport Rail Academy. The … Continue reading Job opportunities and reskilling to support Victoria’s booming rail industry →

In a news release earlier this week, the Andrews Labor Government is creating thousands of local jobs and using Victorian businesses to build the biggest public transport project in Victorian history – the Metro Tunnel. This was announced when Premier Daniel Andrews visited Spotswood’s Rail Centre to meet with apprentices and workers to announce the jobs … Continue reading Melbourne Metro Tunnel to see creation of 7000 jobs →

The Victorian government has signed a deal to purchase the Heyfield Timber Mill, for an undisclosed sum. Despite the purchase of the mill, there are still fears that up to 100 jobs could be lost. Workers have said jobs are in danger due to a restructure induced by a reduction in the amount of timber … Continue reading Hundreds of jobs in danger despite timber mill purchase →

Truck component manufacturer Abcor has secured a five-year contract to supply high-end bull bars for Isuzu. Abcor will be producing the bullbars for Australian and New Zealand markets, with the potential to export to other markets. The deal was two years in the making, according to Abcor director John Kaias. “The partnership approach was important … Continue reading Victorian manufacturer to supply Isuzu truck components →

In an Australian first of its kind, Yarra Valley Water has constructed a waste to energy facility linked to a sewage treatment plant. The purpose built facility provides an environmentally friendly disposal solution for commercial organic waste. The facility will divert 33,000 tonnes of commercial food waste from landfill each year. The waste is delivered by … Continue reading New waste-to-energy plant for Victoria →

A solar plant in Bridgewater, Victoria plans to create 35 jobs over the next few years. Ceramet Solar, a subsidiary of Ballarat-based manufacturer Ceramet Automotive, is in the process of increasing its solar power generation at its Bridgewater site from 500 kilowatts to 1.5 megawatts. The company hopes to use local labour to mass produce … Continue reading New jobs for Victorian solar plant →

By this end of this month, Ballarat manufacturer MaxiTrans will have filled 70 positions needed to construct 395 heavy vehicle trailers for Coles. In April, the company secured a $60 million contract to build Coles’ refrigerated and non-refrigerated trailers at its plant in Wendouree, Ballarat, which will feature components made at its plant in Hallam. … Continue reading Victorian manufacturer to fill 70 jobs for trailer contract →

One of the down-selected tenderers for the LAND 400 contract, BAE Systems, has revealed the SMEs it will team with if it wins the tender. The company has named Victorian firms Marand, MOOG Australia, Motec, AME Systems, RUAG Australia, DVR Engineering, Milspec and APV as the companies it will be working with. The LAND 400 … Continue reading BAE Systems reveals potential partners for LAND 400 →

The development of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility off Victoria has been suggested as a means to address rising energy costs. The Andrews government is allegedly in talks with energy provider AGL to build the LNG import terminal close to Melbourne, potentially in Western Port. The facility would supply to the east-coast … Continue reading Plans for offshore LNG facility to address energy crisis →

Australian Textile Mills (ATM) has requested voluntary redundancy applications from 20 of its Wangaratta factory staff. The company has cited rising energy costs as a major factor in this decision. ATM hopes to make job cuts before the end of September. While energy costs were a major influencing factor, the company has also cited international … Continue reading Rising energy costs force job cuts at Victorian textile factory →

Nearly 100 former automotive workers will have an opportunity to be a part of Victoria’s construction industry, due to new funding from the Andrews Labor Government. During a recent visit to Unipod in Derrimut, Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan announced the company had received a grant from the Local Industry Fund for Transition … Continue reading Former auto workers to join construction manufacturing →

The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Sunshine West company $7773 for allowing waste oil to spill from its site and enter the stormwater system. The EPA launched its investigation following reports of a yellow grey liquid discharging from a drain and into the Fairbairn Road Drain Sediment Pond – a tributary of … Continue reading Victorian chemical manufacturer fined over oil spill →

The Turnbull Government is “ripping off Victoria” over the allocation of budget funds for the state’s rail infrastructure projects, Victorian transport minister Jacinta Allan reportedly said. The Liberal minister has joined Labor’s federal shadow minister Anthony Albanese in claims that the government had “dudded” Victoria’s request for $1.45 billion to go towards regional rail upgrades, … Continue reading Dispute heats up over Victoria’s ‘dudded’ request for rail funding →

Chinese manufacturer Goldwind has acquired an up-to-530MW wind farm project from Origin Energy, in what the company says is the largest wind farm power purchase agreement in Australia. Goldwind paid AU$110 million for the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm project, located in Victoria. Origin Energy also agreed to purchase all the energy and renewable energy certificates … Continue reading Chinese manufacturer makes Australia’s biggest wind deal →

Esso Australia has announced the completion of its Longford Gas Conditioning Plant, which processes gas from the Kipper Tuna Turrum development. This marks the conclusion of the $5.5 billion Kipper Tuna Turrum project. Located in Longford, Victoria, the Kipper Tuna Turrum gas fields and conditioning plant will process 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to … Continue reading Esso completes new gas conditioning plant →

 Dairy processor Murray Goulburn has announced that it will close three factories, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs. The processor will close factories in Edith Creek in northern Tasmania, and Rochester and Kiewa in northern Victoria. The closures will be staggered, beginning with the closure of the Edith Creek factory at the end … Continue reading Murray Goulburn to kill 360 jobs in factory closures →

The Victorian government has promised to stop industrial action going ahead at the Loy Yang A coal-fired power station. Energy supplier AGL is threatening to shut the state’s largest power plant down after the Electrical Trades Unions (ETU) gave notice it would enforce “consecutive stoppages” from May 15. In response to the ongoing industrial dispute, … Continue reading Victorian power ‘not at risk’ over threatened plant lock-out →

CommSec has released its latest quarterly report revealing the economic performance of Australian states. The report analyses eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; business investment; unemployment; construction work done; population growth; housing finance and dwelling commencements. According to CommSec chief economist Craig James, the latest data indicates a multi-speed national economy. NSW remains on top, … Continue reading NSW continues to dominate Australia’s economic performance →

South Australia has reached its renewable energy target of 50 per cent almost eight years ahead of schedule. The state has already surpassed its target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2025, reaching 53 per cent from 2016-2017. In 2014, this figure was 36 per cent. “I am pleased that South Australia is leading … Continue reading SA reaches 50 per cent renewable energy target 8 years early →

Kingspan Insulation has announced the opening of its insulation manufacturing facility at Somerton in Melbourne. The $40 million factory is the first Green Star-rated manufacturing facility in Australia, aiming to support production entirely through renewable energy. With the opening of the Melbourne plant, Kingspan will not only be able to supply products to Australia, but it … Continue reading Australia’s first Green Star-rated factory opens in Victoria →