Premier Mark McGowan, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray have today officially opened Collie’s WesTrac Technology Training Centre, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The cutting-edge, advanced skills training centre in Collie includes a dedicated autonomous vehicle training facility for the resources industry and will support a pipeline of jobs and economic opportunities for Collie.
The training centre is only the second of its type in the world focusing on the technical skills needed to operate autonomous equipment for use in the resources sector, which are in rising demand globally.
With an initial focus on Caterpillar mine haulage vehicles, the centre is set to attract technicians from resource companies from other Australian States and the wider Asia-Pacific region once borders reopen.
The State Government contributed $2.7 million to the facility, its latest investment from the $20 million Collie Futures Fund which is aimed at diversifying Collie’s economy and creating jobs.
The training centre was jointly developed by WesTrac and the landowner, Bluewaters Farm Holdings, at the Coolangatta Industrial Estate, near the Bluewaters power station.
The new facility complements Collie’s rich history as an industrial hub and builds its capability for Mining Equipment, Technology and Services.
