The Offshore Wind Projects will need a workforce to support them. These will include the construction and the maintenance of the Turbines themselves, as well as the supporting infrastructure around these.
I believe the construction of wind turbines is likely to occur outside the Gippsland region, due to a lack of a deep water port. However, local workforce should be given priority, wherever the construction occurs. Maintenance should occur in Gippsland and local workforce should have priority, particularly over potentially cheaper, short-term , sub-contracted immigrant workforce. Work opportunities will attract people to the region as well as reduce the brain drain to capital cities.
This workforce will have to live somewhere. Creating a influx of new residents to stop the brain drain from rural towns.
These jobs will create more opportunities for locals, both in the workforce itself as well as the industries in small towns surrounding the projects that will get increased business from the new industry.
This will bring in more people -workers, families, tourists etc to rural towns assisting local businesses and improving the economy
The housing supply in this area is already tight. An influx of the required workforce will create additional pressure.
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