Earlier this week, the Western Australian Government outlined its ‘strong’ economic growth following the release of new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), as well as a new investment set to boost the wind energy sector.
In 2024-25, Western Australia’s domestic economy grew by 2.9% – making it the strongest mainland state as these figures are above the 2.1% growth in the national economy.
Western Australia’s unemployment rate averaged the lowest in the nation over the last year at just 3.8%, while employment grew by 3% with almost 48,000 new jobs.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti says the buoyant economic conditions continue to translate to opportunities for Western Australians.
“Western Australia continues to be the engine room of the nation, growing by more than 26% over the last five years, the strongest of the states,” Saffioti says.
Wind energy
RCR Advanced Technologies is set to receive $2 million to employ more workers and pursue new manufacturing opportunities in the wind energy sector.
The Bunbury-based company has received the investment under the Western Australian Government’s $8 million Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, delivered in collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre.
RCR Advanced Technologies, part of the half-century old RCR Mining Technologies, will use the co-investment to fund to pilot the production of innovative transition flanges for wind turbines. Transition flanges connect the turbine tower to the foundation and are currently manufactured overseas.
The Western Australian Government says the $5.3 million project will strengthen the state’s capability to produce wind energy componentry locally and support the development of clean energy projects.
RCR expects the project to create 48 new jobs and generate $36 million in new revenue over the next five years. The company is currently in discussions with turbine manufacturers to build flanges in the state, aimed to reduce shipping logistics and deliver supply chain reliability.
STEM education
Students in three Perth schools are benefitting from modern new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) facilities, which have already been completed.
As a result, over 300 public schools have now received upgraded science facilities or new STEM labs since 2017.
At the Hampton Senior High School, the $1.6 million upgrade involved refurbishing existing design and technology facilities into a STEM planning room, storage and metal workship with new welding bays and oxy-acetylene stations.
Meanwhile at Eastern Hills Senior High School, existing design and technology facilities were refurbished into a STEM IT laboratory and 3D printing room, as part of a $1.5 million upgrade – creating more integrated and efficient STEM workshop areas at the school.
Both projects were designed by DWA Architects and HS Hyde & Son completed the works.
The $1.2 million project at Girrawheen Senior High School involves refurbishing two rooms within the student services block into a multi-purpose STEM space, in addition to reconfiguration of the student reception and two student services offices.
These facilities were designed by Mode Design Corp and LKS Construction completed the works.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Unsplash, RCR Advanced Technologies, & Department of Education
