Komatsu, Aurizon progress Perth projects

Two projects in Perth's east are in the pipeline, with Komatsu starting work on a $6 million training facility and Aurizon planning an $11.5 million development at its railyard.

Today, Komatsu said it would begin construction of a new training facility in Welshpool.

The facility is intended to address the state's growing skills shortage, as a result of competition in WA and eastern states projects driving demand; and a decline in interstate migration reducing available workers.

General manager of the new academy, Janine Gurney, said 500 apprentices would undergo training at the new Welshpool facility in the coming three to four years.

“The new facility will offer a suite of nationally recognised qualifications across engineering, civil construction, automotive and mobile plant technology, as well as autonomous workplace and remote operations,” she said.

Komatsu, which is expanding its autonomous haulage fleet in the Pilbara, recently doubled its annual training investment to $12 million.

Also this week, Aurizon submitted development approval documents for a motor vehicle repair and storage warehouse at its railyard in High Wycombe.

The new site will be primarily used by K&S Freight Transport logistics to maintain and service their heavy vehicle fleet, which also includes delivery, storage, and redistribution of containerised/tankered freight.

The site will also be used for customer warehousing, administrative activities, and storing dangerous goods.

The development panel will assess the proposal on August 24.