by Luke Voogt
Dow’s Moolap plant will continue operations, according to management, despite cryptically-worded pressure from State Government for the chemical manufacturer to relocate.
The plant’s site leader Steve McConnell recently assured its approximately 50 workers the company had no plans to leave.
“Dow is committed to continued operations at its Moolap site and has no intention to relocate,” Mr McConnell said in a statement.
“Our employees are pleased they can continue with their jobs and continue to function as an important manufacturing business in the Geelong economy.”
The statement comes after State Government last week released its long-awaited Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan.
The document outlines plans for a “sustainable residential development” titled Moolap East Precinct, currently occupied by Dow and other manufacturers.
“The Moolap East Precinct will retain Dow Chemical until they want to leave,” the document states.
“Only when they are ready to leave will the potential for urban renewal in the Moolap East Precinct be realised.”
While supporting “the retention of Dow as an important employer”, the document repeats the need for the company to leave to “unlock the precinct’s ultimate potential” several times.
“We understand the long-term planning intent of the framework, but it’s important to state that Dow ANZ has no planned intention to exit the site,” Mr McConnell said.
But he welcomed the release of the plan, which he said affirmed the company’s right to operate and protected the investment it had made in jobs over the years.
“The release brings to an end a long consultation process and provides a welcomed certainty for the future of our Geelong operations and our people.
“The Dow coating materials plant has been part of the Greater Geelong economy for over fifty years and was first built in 1962.”
Dow recently made “a substantial capital investment” in upgrades to the plant, Mr McConnell said.
Last year Winchester Australia announced plans to cease its operations in 2019 at the site.
Following the closure of Alcoa’s Point Henry plant and Cheetham Saltworks at Moolap, State Government plans to convert 1200 hectares of land into a 12,000-resident development.
The closures delivered a “fantastic opportunity” for a development with 270-degree coastal views, according to the government’s framework plan.
The development would provide significant tourist attractions while maintaining shelter for thousands of migratory birds that stopped at Moolap yearly, the document stated.
The document follows four years of consultation and planning by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
