It is certainly a rocky time for the job market in Lithgow at the moment.
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Within just a few weeks, we have discussed Springvale Mine’s future, which is currently in the hands of a Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) panel, and the likely reopening of the Invincible Mine.
We have had new beds announced for Lithgow Aged Care, which will see jobs created in the construction phase over the next two to three years and then in the ongoing provision of care to 168 residents.
There was the new express train flagged for later this year, which should increase the possibilities of Lithgow people travelling freely and cheaply around the region for work and leisure.
And then there was the revelation of the plan to slowly transfer job placements from the Lithgow Office of State Revenue out of town to Gosford.
As the cuts to the Lithgow centre would have been carried out by attrition (not replacing people when they leave), it is possible this could have been a slow bleed which went relatively under the radar.
Lithgow City Council’s move to bring it to the attention of the community certainly made sure it attracted plenty of scrutiny.
In an area already struggling with high unemployment and very high youth unemployment, the narrowing of job opportunities has serious implications for the whole community.
Can it be called a job loss when the people are not being sacked? When they are just not being replaced?
It absolutely can.
These positions, when they fall vacant, will be offered to members of the Lithgow community.
It may be that this vacancy will attract a skilled worker, who may come to town with their family.
Their children will join our schools, our sporting clubs.
If they are single, they will still spend money buying food, visiting our stores.
Some of them will volunteer and give their skills to our service organisations or our arts.
Or it may be that a person within the community is offered a chance to take up one of these positions, perhaps someone who has been displaced by some other business closure.
These people’s families are then offered security to stay within the region, to continue to make their mark and to make Lithgow a more vibrant place.
Thank goodness for backflips.
Kirsty Horton
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
