Industrial area vital to WA economy

Premier Colin Barnett told theTelegraph of the importance of the Kwinana Industrial Area last week after he presided over a ceremony at the site of a new $400 million processing plant in the region.

Chinese organisation Tianqi Lithium Corporation has local and State Government approval to build a lithium hydroxide processing plant that will create up to 500 jobs in the construction process.

The project is expected to become operational towards the end of next year and to offer 115 people employment.

Mr Barnett told theTelegraph Tianqi’s commitment was another boost for WA and highlighted Kwinana’s prominence in bolstering the State’s economy.

“The Kwinana Industrial Area is the most important area of production in Western Australia and it is the biggest base for employment,” he said.

“There are a lot of industries and I think this investment in lithium hydroxide is a high value-adding manufacturing plant and it has jthe prospect of further expan-sion.

“There will be highly skilled jobs here and I think it will be a great signal to not only Chinese but other investors and companies across Asia to come here.

“Well done to Kwinana that has been approved.”

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams told an audience packed with dignitaries the City welcomed the Chinese investment with open arms.

“The Tianqi plant is a very welcome infrastructure investment in the Kwinana Industrial Area,” she said.

“The addition to Kwinana further bolsters the region and the western trade coast is the ideal home for Tianqi.”