Premier Mark McGowan was in the South West today to celebrate the beginning of a new 2.5 kiolmetre road at the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area.
The $5.25 million project will help to support the development of the new Albemarle lithium processing plant and unlock an additional 350 hectares of industrial land by connecting Wellesley Road North to Marriot Road.
The Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area is the South West's largest strategic industrial area, designed to value-add to the region's natural resources and support industries of regional importance.
Its development is delivered by LandCorp's Industrial Lands Authority, with May marking one year since its formation to better co-ordinate the planning and delivery of industrial land.
Mr McGowan said the new road was an important strategic asset that would unlock thousands of jobs in the future, particularly in the Peel and South West regions.
"This is an important day for the South West and for job creation in WA," he said.
"The Albemarle lithium plant will deliver a boost to local jobs in these regions, and my government is pleased to deliver the necessary infrastructure to support it.
"The Industrial Lands Authority was an important election commitment that is already seeing positive results in driving job creating and economic activity.
"With the Albemarle project we're working constantly with the company to make sure that people in the South West get the jobs out of that project - people of Bunbury, Australind, Collie and surrounding areas."
Mr McGowan said the state government would promote the soon-to-be available land as they did with Albemarle.
Bunbury MLA Don Punch said it was about jobs for the South West community and local businesses.
"For too long we've had problems with local employment and this is going to be a great project to help deliver on local jobs," he said.
Lands Minister Ben Wyatt said the role of the Industrial Lands Authority was a crucial one for growth and prosperity across WA.
"The first 12 months of operation have clearly demonstrated the value of our election commitment to a dedicated agency focused on delivering strategically-located industrial land for the jobs of tomorrow," he said.
"Over the next four years, the Industrial Lands Authority will invest $130 million to provide land and infrastructure for strategic, special and general industries throughout WA - driving economic growth and business investment, supporting new industries and creating jobs."
The project is expected to be completed by September, 2019.
