A new Local Jobs Portal and Local Participation Plan has been launched by Woodside to support their commitment to local jobs in the Karratha region of Western Australia.
Premier Mark McGowan welcomes the announcement of the new portal as well as the participation plan that will ensure locals have the best chance of finding work on all of Woodside’s projects in the Pilbara.
“The Local Participation Plan will ensure that the next wave of Woodside projects create direct jobs for people in the Pilbara,” the Premier said.
With Woodside entering a growth and construction phase, along with the company investing significantly into its projects, thousands of job opportunities will be created in order to secure Karratha’s long-term future.
Growth and expansion projects in Karratha are part of Woodside’s plans to build on important infrastructure which the company has already developed - including the Pluto expansion, Karratha Gas plant upgrade as well as the upcoming processing of Browse and Scarborough gas.
“Today’s announcement is about job creation and securing the future of Karratha. It also supports Woodside’s plans to bring Scarborough and Browse gas onshore,” Mr McGowan said.
The Local Jobs Portal was launched to serve as an online tool where Karratha locals can register their availability for jobs and their skills. Woodside will be using this jobs portal to source for suitable workers before the company considers hiring FIFO workers on their projects in the region.
Woodside’s contractors will also be required to utilise the Locals First Portal, which will ensure that more local jobs are being created.
“Karratha workers have the skill and the knowledge to do this work and the Local Jobs Portal will ensure they are in the box seat for future job opportunities.
“With the expansion of Pluto and the potential for Browse and Scarborough gas to be processed in Karratha, there is an opportunity to create a pipeline of jobs for locals, supporting the local economy for years to come,” Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said.
The State Government is intending to enter into lease negotiations for Bay Village which follows Woodside’s commitment to the Local Participation Plan together with a local content requirement that ensures the village will generate jobs for locals.
Bay Village is going to be given a local content requirement of 85 per cent, creating approximately 70 jobs during construction as well as 30 ongoing operational positions for the local community.
The village is set to become a state-of-the-art facility that will house workers during the upgrade on the Karrath Gas Plant, Pluto plant expansion as well as the construction phases at the Browse and Scarborough projects. Bay Village is going to be a high-quality modern and landscaped village that blend in with the surrounding residential areas.
The lease from the State Government is subject to normal financial and legal requirements as well as Woodside’s commitment to the Local Participation Plan. The Bay Village project will also go through the normal planning approval process.
“Now we have these participation plans in place for local jobs in Karratha, as well as the Local Jobs Portal, the State will enter into negotiations for a land lease at Bay Village.
“Any subsequent development will be subject to normal planning approval processes with maximising local jobs our key consideration,” Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said.
For interested parties, you can check out the Local Jobs Portal here.
Watch this space for the latest industry news and project updates by subscribing to Felix Project News today.
Source: Government of South Australia
