The Dalby Chamber of Commerce said that the closure of a local steel manufacturing plant is a blow to the town, but workers should be able to find jobs on Queensland's Darling Downs.

More than 150 jobs across Australia have been cut from RPG Australia after the company was placed into voluntary administration, including 76 staff in Dalby.

However, DCC president Mr Nick Koenig says many redundant workers should be able to find local jobs.

Mr Koenig said that job cuts are always hard but local industry should be able to absorb the losses. He added that "Seventy employees, they're a big manufacturing employer. There's going to be people looking for work obviously but one would hope there's other manufacturing industry in the town that might be able to absorb some of it. Certainly with the work that they had we would hope that some of those other businesses would take on some of that work and create some employment."

Western Downs Mayor Mr Ray Brown says he is disappointed RPG Australia has closed its Dalby steel manufacturing plant. He says it is a loss for the local community.

He added that "Obviously when a major steel fabrication complex like this closes down in a town, it's certainly an upheaval to those employees and families of those employees. Dalby is certainly a particularly community orientated community, so that sort of impact does send shudders across here. We know we're in a major growth area with the energy sector but obviously this organisation has been a big part of our community."

Source - www.abc.net.au

(www.steelguru.com)