Gippsland businesses, workers and apprentices will benefit from the Andrews Labor Government’s revamp of one of the state’s most popular attractions, the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll today visited the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre to announce the local content requirements for the $58 million project, which will create more than 200 jobs during construction.
Through the Labor Government’s Local Jobs First policy, the project will be required to use at least 89 per cent local content, and maximise the use of local steel products made from locally milled steel.
The project is also subject to the Major Projects Skills Guarantee which will see apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets make up at least 10 per cent of total labour hours.
Once complete, the parade will feature a larger and better equipped Visitor Centre to replace the outdated 1988 centre, improving the experience of visitors and reducing the impacts on penguins.
As one of Australia’s most popular wildlife attractions, the Penguin Parade welcomed over 700,000 visitors last year, and over 1.4 million visitors to all of the Nature Parks’ attractions. This investment will ensure that Victoria remains at the forefront of tourism, with a forecast visitation increase of up to 20 per cent over the next ten years.
Local businesses interested in being part of this project should register with the Industry Capability Network, which is taking expressions of interest from businesses looking to be part of the project.
To register with the Industry Capability Network, visit http://icn.org.au for information about the project or to express an interest in being part of the project.
Since November 2014, the Labor Government has set local content requirements for 80 Strategic Projects, valued at more than $50 billion and supporting more than 20,000 jobs.
Victorian Government Media Release – 29 December 2017
