West Coast Mayor Robyn Gerrity announced today that the Mines Assistance Program coordinated by the Council was nearing conclusion.

The program was established to provide interim employment opportunities for workers who were stood down temporarily while work at the Mt Lyell mine was suspended earlier this year.

Financial assistance of $400,000 by the State Government, together with Council funds permitted 73 mine employees to work with Council staff on some 20 projects, delivering in excess of $1.2M in value to the West Coast.

Mayor Gerrity acknowledged the efforts of Council staff in overseeing the program and the contribution of the mine workers themselves. The projects undertaken included:-

• GALLEY MUSEUM FOOTPATH
• MELLOR STREET DRAINAGE
• DENISON & ORR ST, QUEENSTOWN WALL
• WAR IMAGES PLAZA, QUEENSTOWN
• FENCING WORKS DEPOT QUEENSTOWN
• SELBY ST CHILDCARE CARPARK
• DOWNPIPES ORR ST, QUEENSTOWN
• ROSEBERY BASKETBALL HALF COURT
• ZEEHAN MAIN ST, KERBING, FOOTPATH ETC
• QUEENSTOWN SWIMMING POOL
• CONLAN STREET STAGE 3
• PONTIFEX & ORR ST, QUEENSTOWN FENCING & FOOTPATH
• MEMORIAL HALL, QUEENSTOWN, ELECTRICS
• HURST ST STRAHAN STORMWATER
• JONES ST, STRAHAN FOOTPATH, K&C
• TULLAH PLAYGROUND
• ZEEHAN BASKETBALL HALF COURT
• ZEEHAN MAIN ST EMBANKMENT
• COUNCIL CAR PARK QUEENSTOWN
• TRIAL HARBOUR GUARD RAILING & ROAD WORKS

I am particularly thankful of the positive response from our State Government to support the program. Once again it demonstrates how local Councils can swiftly partner with other tiers of government in the efficient delivery of specific projects said Mayor Gerrity.

Authorised for release on Wednesday 4 June 2014 by Greg Winton, interim General Manager, West Coast Council