Edify Energy have rejected fears they will ignore unemployed residents for jobs at their solar farm development in Darlington Point.
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The state government approved construction of a 275 megawatt solar farm in December.
Griffith’s Graham Kilby is worried that residents may miss out. Mr Kilby was until recently the branch manager of Jobactive service provider CVGT.
Mr Kilby said he was concerned that Edify had not yet approached Jobactive providers to tell them about training requirements needed for Griffith’s residents to secure construction jobs.
Mr Kilby said this behavior by Edify reminds him of the Coleambally solar farm development during which he claims backpackers were given most of the jobs.
“For the solar farm development in Coleambally they said a lot of employment and benefit to the locals would come through nothing has come through, I sent my staff at CVGT out to information sessions but no jobs came to us,” Mr Kilby said.
“The employment providers have a bucket of government funds to train people up, Edify needs to go to the job networks and say alright we need all your people to have white cards and have this and that.”
Mr Winter said in accordance with conditions of planning consent Edify have an obligation to prepare an employment and accommodation strategy in consultation with Murrumbidgee Council.
The strategy will provide clear opportunities for local people and businesses and has to be approved by the NSW Planning Department.
“Our employment contractor has not yet approached any Jobactive centres in the Murrumbidgee region, pending confirmation of a firm construction start date,” Mr Winter said.
He said the strategy will also see a job fair held in mid-February and community consultations.
“We welcome continued expressions of interest and those individuals and businesses seeking opportunities at Darlington Point solar farm should contact darlingtonpointsolar@signalenergy.com and/or plan to attend the job fair in mid-February.”
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