Tamworth-based Warra-Li Resource Unit approached Inverell Shire Council to locate and construct the electronic waste facility at the Inverell Waste Station as a Warra-Li-owned social enterprise.

“No one in the region is currently doing anything like this, so it’s unique,” e-waste project manager Niel Barry told The Inverell Times.

The project was welcomed by Inverell mayor Paul Harmon and council general manager Paul Henry.

While it ticks council’s target box of heading to a 70 per cent waste reduction by 2020, Warra-Li business manager Craig Cox said their main aim was to provide a sustainable employment pathway.

“It’s about creating work ethic, it’s about creating workplace safety, it’s about providing entry-level qualifications – for instance, work health and safety, white card, first aid and forklift ticket – and also for some, there will be a certificate II in warehousing and storage,” Mr Cox said.

“So we’re pretty much shovel-ready, depending on state and federal funding.”

There are six initial positions planned from commencement, and Warra-Li hopes to graduate 20 experienced Aboriginal job applicants into the job market in their first year.

“So the model is: while they’re there working in the capacity as a Work for the Dole participant, we’ll be identifying those who are showing potential in a particular job,” Mr Barry said.

“And we’ll be approaching employers then to try and leverage the skills that they’ve learnt into full-time employment with employers.”