Ford’s Broadmeadows plant should be turned into car recycling plant, election candidate says

AUTOMOTIVE workers facing job losses could be thrown a lifeline if an idea to transform Ford’s Broadmeadows plant into a car recycling facility gains traction.

Ford workers to loose their jobs

AUTOMOTIVE workers facing uncertain futures could be thrown an employment lifeline if an election candidate’s plan to transform Ford’s Broadmeadows plant into a car recycling facility gains traction.

Independent Northern Metropolitan Region candidate Peter Allan is calling for whoever forms government after Saturday’s election to conduct a feasibility study into the creation of a vehicle disassembly plant to increase employment in Melbourne’s north.

“Each year, 800,000 vehicles reach end of life, but by setting up a vehicle disassembly plant, we can generate huge employment opportunities for those skilled Victorians already in the vehicle industry who would otherwise be facing a bleak future,” Mr Allan, a recycling consultant, said.

He has flagged Ford’s Broadmeadows site, which has already cut vehicle production and will cease manufacturing altogether in October 2016, as a possible venue.

Minister for Manufacturing and Major Projects David Hodgett tentatively supported the idea.

“The Coalition has demonstrated our commitment to supporting a wide range of manufacturing industries and we’d be open to supporting any business which would grow jobs in the region,” Mr Hodgett said.

Hume Mayor Adem Atmaca said the council would support any concept that created jobs and reduced landfill.

“A feasibility study isn’t a bad idea if it’s going to create jobs,” Cr Atmaca said. “We already recycle whitegoods that are pulled apart and melted.

“Anything that is going to reduce landfill is a good thing.”

Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce media and communications manager Murray Collins said they would support the idea as there was no official end-of-vehicle-life policy in the state.

“VACC would support one as it would encourage motorists to dispose of vehicles in a responsible manner,” he said.

Mr Collins said it was time for the State Government to focus on the automotive retail, service and repair sector and do more to support small, independent automotive businesses such as dismantlers and recyclers.

A Broadmeadows Ford worker of 22 years set to lose her job, who did not want her name published, told Leader the concept had potential.

Ford did not wish to comment ahead of the election.