The project is the result of about a year’s planning between Warra-li and local and federal governments.

Warra-li Resource Unit manager Craig Cox said the facility hoped to be processing by November and will create six full-time positions from commencement.

“It’s a work for the dole site, and will cater for eight regional councils to process their e-waste, as well as the Department of Education and Hunter New England Health,” Craig said.

“Our definition of e-waste is basically anything you can plug in.

“So, that’s the means to do the training and skilling for the Aboriginal jobseekers. Then, our target is to move 20 of those guys and girls off into employment within the first 12 months.”

Mr Cox said he thought it was an achievable target.

“Having said that, Inverell Shire Council has been extremely supportive and have contributed quite a deal in terms of infrastructure and the site,” he said.

The project will cost about $2 million.

“The federal government is providing just a squeak over a million dollars over three years, which will be the operating funds for the project. So we’re in it for the long haul,” Mr Cox said.

“We think that our model and this project really hits it between the eyes, as far as Aboriginal employment is concerned. It’s not training for training sake. It’s real life, entry level work experience at a light industrial site.”

Mr Joyce said the funding would benefit the whole community and showed what you can do if you stayed in close to the Minister.

“I think this is a win-win situation for the community,” he said.

“This keeps people employed. It helps the environment, helps the Aboriginal community, helps Inverell, so all round it’s a good announcement.

“It’s just one of those things, if you keep working hard, keep fighting, you’ll keep delivering.”

The project is forecast to remove 150 tonnes of e-waste annually, and will utilise the federal government’s VTEC program.