WA allocates funding for local manufacture of 'poles and wires'

The WA Government has announced a $20 million investment as part of the state’s 2025–26 Budget to help deliver an advanced manufacturing facility in Forrestfield and a Local Industry Development Fund, and at the same time upgrade electricity transmission ‘poles and wires’.

Following a commitment made in the government’s Made in WA plan, the state government will invest $10 million in a new manufacturing facility in Forrestfield to supply Western Power with the thousands of kilometres of transmission lines it will require to deliver the state’s energy transition.

That facility will be developed in consultation with established steel fabrication companies to provide a state government-backed facility that can manufacture transmission components.

To maximise local content, a further $10 million has been allocated in the state Budget for a Local Industry Development Fund, helping Western Power achieve the highest level of commercially viable local content in delivering the energy transition.

Additionally to the above facility and the development fund, the state government will also work with industry to determine which products will be built between Forrestfield and Picton, where Western Power will become a foundational customer of a new Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub (AMTECH).

Planning for this facility will receive a further $5 million via the Strategic Industries Fund, helping secure a major local manufacturing hub in regional WA.

“By ensuring we have the facilities to deliver the poles and wires needed for Western Australia’s energy transition, we are creating opportunities for local industry to scale up and provide steel components to the energy transition that would otherwise be sourced from overseas,” Premier Roger Cook said.

Image credit: iStock.com/bocero1977