Shire sweetener to lure plumber into town

Guaranteed work at a local mine, subsidised housing, and a lock-up unit to work from — what more could a tradie ask for to move to a small country town?

Perenjori is short of a plumber, and the Shire is working hard to attract a suitably qualified tradesperson to move to town and start a business.

“A local miner will guarantee them work and the local government will give them an incubator premises and housing,” Shire of Perenjori president Chris King said.

Shire chief executive Mario Romeo said Silver Lake Resources needed a part-time plumber at the Rothesay mine and the Shire had been using plumbers from Geraldton.

“There is an opportunity to get someone who will establish a business in town,” he said.

Silver Lake’s Greg Winder said the company was negotiating to pay the Shire a bursary for the purpose.

“On top of that we would engage their services as an independent contractor whenever we needed maintenance or services done,” he said.

“Our intention is to grow the town of Perenjori to support the community rather than just support the mine.”

Cr King said it was part of a larger Shire project to try to encourage more people to come and live in Perenjori.