Companies like AMSL Aero choosing to expand in Narromine will help diversify the region and bring jobs, says mayor Craig Davies.
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On Wednesday, sustainable aerospace company AMSL Aero announced it would be setting up at the Narromine Aerodrome Industrial Park. The company wants to use the space to start testing its electric Vertical TakeOff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles.
Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said there would probably be "five to ten" jobs to start with and as the company grew he expected to "see job growth expand very quickly and meaningfully".
But Cr Davies said it would provide more than just high tech jobs and positions for young people.
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He said having a high tech company choose Narromine for its expansion would create diversity in the shire and help drought-proof the town so it could continue to "grow and prosper".
"We've just had three years of pretty lousy drought and to be able to have other excellent jobs available, that are high tech, that are available to young people in our shire, is a real boost for the town," Cr Davies said.
"You just can't buy these things."
AMSL Aero was able to expand to the town thanks to a $950,000 support grant from the NSW government's Regional Investment Attraction.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro was also confident it would spark job growth.
"We know that if we partner with businesses, we can attract those businesses to the region and we will create jobs. And not just any job, but great jobs, jobs of the future," he said.
AMSL Aero is the first tenant at the new Narromine Aerodrome precinct but Cr Davies said they had seen other interest from both national and international companies.
"Already it's gaining a reputation with people around the world knowing they can come here and get a lot of support, not just from the Narromine council but also from our politicians here who have shown great support for this project, and other projects here," the mayor said.
AMSL Aero co-founder Andrew Moore said testing of the first full-scale eVTOL aircraft would begin later in the year. He said by 2021 the vehicles, which will be faster than a modern helicopter, will be commercially available.