Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the State Government will do everything in its power to support Alcoa workers and their families following the official closure of the company’s Anglesea power station on 31 August.
“Leading up to the site’s closure, workers and their families have been front of mind and will continue to be during this time of transition,” Premier Andrews said in a media statement.
“Ongoing support will remain in place for the company’s former employees through the Government’s Geelong Workforce Development Centre at The Gordon Institute of TAFE along with extended access to government-subsidised training to help employees retrain.”
He said local businesses will also be encouraged to employ former Alcoa workers with payments of up to $2,000 through the Government’s Back to Work Scheme.
The Anglesea site was handed today to Alcoa’s Asset Planning and Management group for future decommissioning and rehabilitation and Mr Andrews said the Government will work closely with the company to ensure all regulatory requirements are met.
“There are number of different elements to the rehabilitation of the site including the mine and the power station along with a landfill and a number of onsite ponds. Alcoa will remain at the site post closure and will be responsible for the rehabilitation of the site,” Premier Andrews added.
“Alcoa will develop a final closure plan for the mine in line with its current approved rehabilitation plan that takes into account the features of the mine, the landscape the mine sits within and the needs of community and government.”
Alcoa, which has estimated US$40 – US$45 million for asset retirement and rehabilitation at Anglesea, said it would continue to engage with the community about the final closure plan in line with the endorsed Mine Plan.
