Local Boulder business and Industry Link Media member Goldfields NDT, has received $195,000 from the latest round of the State Government Regional Economic Development Grants program. The Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC was at Goldfields NDT to announce the latest funding this morning which also included $100,000 to develop the Coolgardie Innovation and Economic Development Centre in the old Coolgardie Post Office.
“We have today announced that we will be providing a grant of $195,000 to help provide this company (Goldfields NDT) now go to the next stage in their business. They will be able to double the size of their workforce because they will be expanding and being able to undertake a much bigger regime of testing services for the Mining industry. So that’s a great story for Kalgoorlie for creating jobs for in this company but its also about making mining in the Goldfields more cost effective” Minister MacTiernan said.
Goldfields NDT Director Dirk de Beer pinpointed the need to have a local facility to assist turnaround and provide something done elsewhere that could be achieved in the Goldfields. “This project started a couple of years ago and was a result of raising how much work was being sent to Perth, when it could be done locally except the facility wasn’t able to proved the service.” Mr de Beer said in relation to the development off a new facility.
“If its local, we get it done locally – we have a faster turnaround. Which means you get an answer quickly and mines can react quicker based on the information received. If we have to take it to Perth it can take from 2 days to up to three weeks.” Mr de Beer said.
The new facility for Goldfields NDT will be adjacent to Goldfields Highway and provide a striking statement to the South Boulder area and is on the cards to be up and running by the end of November pending approvals. For local Goldfields Esperance businesses keen to find out more about the RED grants, contact the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission.