The Collie Mail started the year with a tough ask as we welcomed two new journalists from Victoria to the team.
It has been a big move for the pair but they have embedded themselves into the community and have highlighted the good and bad news in the area.
The year started off well with the longest running industrial dispute coming to an end for Griffin Coal mine maintenance workers. The knock-on effects of this dispute was palpable within the community so it was great to see some positivity injected back into the town.
Collie saw the injection of state government money, starting off with funding for a feasibility study into a heated or indoor pool. This study has rounded out the year at the shire with council accepting it and opening it up for comment. Unfortunately though, whatever the decision, ratepayers will have to fork out more money for the project to occur.
Diversifying Collie and its economy has been the buzz phrase for local and state politicians in 2018.
It was really prevalent when Collie hosted its first Critical Horizon event. The event had a range of different speakers showing different industries what the town and region could invest in. This included renewable energy such as solar.
Which was good timing as the Shire of Collie council gave the green light to area’s first solar farm in May.
In what was labelled by some as a strange decision by the council was the rejection of a proposal to install solar panels on the roof of shire buildings.
Council made the decision because they were worried about the impact it would have on the coal businesses as well as Collie’s reputation as a coal mining town.
Collie’s Shaun Pianta has been a shining light for the town as he competed in his first paralympics winter games. While Pianta didn’t finish with a medal, he can hold his head up high as he was just one of two West Australians to compete in the competition.
While there has been businesses closures such as Target, the community has rallied together to support local businesses. This is great to see and I think what will be the success of Collie. It has also been great to watch the rise in tourism promotion for the region.
It has been a transition year for Collie, which will set it up for better things to come in the future.
Jemillah Dawson
I started as a journalist in 2011 and now manage mastheads in the South West of WA. My passion is politics and sport. I believe we are the voice for the community but also we inform the community of what they need to know. Email jemillah.dawson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I started as a journalist in 2011 and now manage mastheads in the South West of WA. My passion is politics and sport. I believe we are the voice for the community but also we inform the community of what they need to know. Email jemillah.dawson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
