Wyndham council will undertake a series of campaigns focused on creating more local jobs, as part of the new Activate East Werribee – 60,000 Jobs Plan.
Council said it will call on the Victorian government to commit to a target of 2500 jobs in East Werribee and will also prepare a report on the effectiveness of holding a ‘Local Jobs for Locals – The Wyndham Summit’ to secure jobs for the municipality.
It comes as the council held a special council meeting on Tuesday, June 7, amid concerns about the CSIRO’s decision to develop the Australian Food Innovation Centre in Melbourne’s north.
The federal government originally planned to develop a CSIRO Food Innovation Centre in Werribee, that would secure additional jobs in Wyndham.
Council said it was “disappointed” the CSIRO chose to move the food innovation facility, fearing it could lead to fewer jobs being created in the East Werribee Precinct.
Councillor Mia Shaw said the decision was “disgraceful” and the Wyndham community does “deserve better”.
“This now puts the CSIRO Food Innovation Centre in East Werribee at risk of being closed …. we want industry and jobs here,” Cr Shaw said.
“We have an obligation to fight for local jobs, for local workers.”
Council also voted to meet with the CSIRO chief executive to discuss what incentives it would need to stay in Werribee.
Cr Heather Marcus said the issue was “very important” and “deserves discussion”.
“We have waited a long time for something to happen …. and despite much promise, nothing has happened in nearly two decades,” Cr Marcus said.
A CSIRO spokeswoman said the new centre in Melbourne’s north would be a “state-of-the-art” national agrifood facility.
“If the proposal for the Australian Food Innovation Centre progresses, it will still be some years away, and CSIRO would consider future options for our Werribee site,” the spokeswoman said.
