Collie Delivery Unit
Published on 7 May 2025
Collie, a small town 200 kilometres south of Perth, has powered Western Australia for decades via its coal mining and coal-fired power stations.
As Australia continues to shift towards the use of renewable energy, prioritising the people of Collie is essential to ensure a successful transition to net zero by 2050.
In 2019, the WA Government established the Collie Delivery Unit (CDU) to help the community shift from a coal-dependent economy to a more diverse and sustainable future.
The CDU team works with local businesses, industries and government agencies to attract new investments and create sustainable employment opportunities for the Collie community.
‘The Collie Delivery Unit works with the understanding that a just transition is strongest when it is shaped by the voices of the community it serves,' a spokesperson from the CDU said.
‘Since the transition began, Collie has come together and demonstrated a strong community vision for the town as it shifts away from its economic dependence on coal. The Collie Delivery Unit has an important role in coordinating this approach and driving and supporting the initiatives that will deliver this transition.’
Collie’s Just Transition
The Just Transition framework is based on international evidence that suggests working together at a regional level can improve overall outcomes for impacted communities.
The WA Government has committed to a Just Transition for Collie and has invested more than $662 million in the town and region as part of the transition. Funds will go towards retraining programs, industrial diversification and infrastructure projects.
Funding has been allocated to various projects in the area to support the community through the transition. This includes tourism initiatives such as the Collie Mural Trail and an expansive outdoor art gallery featuring more than 40 murals connecting Wellington Dam with Collie’s town centre. The dam mural is the largest in the world and is inspired by local stories and photos.
A major infrastructure project which aims to support decarbonisation in WA is the Collie Battery Energy Storage System, run by Synergy. Installation works for the project are now complete, and the battery will be ready for use in late-2025. Once completed, the battery will provide 500 megawatts of power with 2000 megawatt hours of storage and able to power 785,000 homes for four hours.
Other initiatives include retraining programs run by the Collie Jobs and Skills Centre and WesTrac Technology Training Centre, enabling affected workers the chance to upskill in new areas.
These are just some of the many initiatives happening across Collie to support the transition.
Hear first-hand about the transition in Collie, by listening to CDU's podcast created to provide the local community with updates on the transition, news on the different projects in the area and the local voices affected by the transition. Visit the Collie Just Transition podcast.