The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to relocating Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT) to Burnie – the hub of the State’s mining industry – to drive renewed growth in the sector to create jobs.
Today, I am pleased to advise that we have completed Stage 1 of the relocation, with five full-time positions now located in an MRT office in the Harris Building, Cattley Street, Burnie, along with an office for the Director of Mines.
Including geologists, tenement inspectors and a land information officer, these staff are offering a wide range of services direct to the local industry.
A time of generational change within MRT has given us the opportunity to renew its workforce, and we – and the industry – will benefit from the wealth of experience that the new staff members bring on board.
Four of the five worked for West Coast mines, and while two were already living in the Burnie region, three have relocated from Hobart, Queenstown and Victoria respectively to take up their positions.
As we made clear before the election, the MRT move is being rolled out over four years, the core library functions will remain in Hobart and no employees will be forced to relocate, with staff and unions consulted throughout the transition.
Stage 2 of the relocation is underway and will see a further three to five positions, including senior management, royalty, finance and administration functions, relocated over the next six months.
Further functions will relocated to Burnie, including tenement administration, under Stage 3, which will be undertaken during this year and 2017.
Burnie is the strategic hub for mining in Tasmania, with much of the State’s mineral exports being shipped through the city’s port.
The mining industry has been a strong supporter of this policy, and the Liberal Government is delivering.
While we have felt the effects of a global downturn in commodity prices, we are confident of a positive future for this industry, which remains a major employer in the State, and particularly across the North-West and West coasts.
Our number one priority is jobs, and that’s why we want to align the State’s minerals agency to work more closely with the industry to create employment.