WORKFORCE

Jobs created on the Victorian Desalination Project and through supply contracts mean direct economic benefits are flowing from the project with increased employment and spending at a state and local level.

The project is expected to create 4750 full-time equivalent jobs during construction. This includes 1700 direct jobs and as many as 3050 indirect positions.

A further 150 full-time equivalent jobs — 50 direct and 100 indirect — will be created to support the operation, maintenance and servicing of the plant.

The economic boost to Victoria during construction of the plant has been estimated at $1 billion.

There has been significant interest in the project from job seekers in and outside the local Bass Coast region. When Thiess Degrémont, the design and construction contractor for the project, first advertised labour and trade jobs in November 2009, it received 14,500 applications.

Recruitment is ongoing, with the workforce expected to reach its peak towards the end of 2010.

Local jobs

Local people are filling many of the construction jobs that have become available as part of the desalination project. It is estimated that around one third of labourers and tradesmen hired to date are from the local area and around half are from the broader Gippsland area.

Work has been available in areas such as site preparation, construction of buildings and provision of goods and services.

The construction phase is also having a flow on effect for the local economy through demand from a new workforce for products from local suppliers and additional business for retailers and other service providers.