Portland was already well advanced in its plans to further diversify its economy so it was not so heavily reliant on the Portland smelter, the Committee for Portland chairman says.
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Responding to comments that last week’s government assistance package only assured the smelter’s future for four years, Jim Cooper said the committee was underway with its Portland Futures project.
Mr Cooper said the committee had already appointed Dr Tim Harrison, an expert in regional development, to lead the 12-month project that aims to identify opportunities to diversify Portland’s economy and recommend actions to local industry, state and federal governments.
Mr Cooper said the committee had worked for about 12 months to set up the project which would hold town meetings to gather ideas from residents and other stakeholders.
Mr Cooper said Portland was already a diverse economy, having the world’s biggest wood chip and log port. The port would also this year handle the state’s biggest grain harvest in a decade, he said.
Portland was also the state’s tuna fishing capital and southern Australia’s whale watching capital, he said.
“The challenge is to strengthen the diversity,” Mr Cooper said.
Glenelg Shire mayor Anita Rank said Alcoa‘s commitment to operate the plant for four years was “wonderful news” but a reminder that the plant’s future could not be guaranteed to operate forever.
Among the industries the shire hoped to expand and attract through a strategic plan to further diversify the local economy were renewable energy, transport and forestry, tourism, agriculture and aquaculture, she said.
Meanwhile, former premier and South West Coast MP Denis Napthine welcomed news of the government package.
“It’s a good outcome for Portland Aluminium and a fantastic outcome for the workers and the community of Portland and south-west Victoria,” he said. “There are times when governments of all persuasions – state and federal – need to provide assistance to provide for ongoing employment and to secure industries for the state.”
Dr Napthine also called for an independent inquiry into the cause of a power outage to the smelter at the beginning of December.