The towns of Manjimup and Collie were built on the timber and coal industries respectively, but while those industries disappear, one town is righting itself while the other is "treading water".
The communities are just over 100 kilometres apart in Western Australia's south west, nestled among farm land and the thick bush of the Jarrah-Karri forests.
Despite their proximity, the mood in the towns as they transition away from their historic industries is very different.
In Collie, an expected announcement to shut government-operated coal power stations in 2029 was softened with a $662 million transition package.
But in the timber town of Manjimup, the state's surprise announcement to end native timber logging by 2024 sent shockwaves through the area.
Manjimup workers 'treading water'
For years, funding has been pumped into Collie — a marginal seat — with the phasing out of coal considered inevitable.
But further south, Manjimup sits in the seat of Warren-Blackwood. It was long-held by conservatives until the red wave of the 2021 state election landed it, for the first time, in Labor hands.
Residents in "Manji" said they were left out in the cold, grappling with what the future looks like.
In Manjimup, the government's $80 million "just transition" package includes $26.9 million to support business, with $45,000 for reskilling and training.
But timber worker Michael Drake said that was not enough to secure his future.
"In terms of employees, I had a guy leave about four months ago and he still hasn't had access to his money.
"The forestry management plans end every 10 years. I've seen two renewed in my time … this was definitely a shock."
Manjimup timber saw owner Alan Trease said there was no compensation available for him, despite his business being intrinsically entwined with the timber industry.
"It's only going to be the contracted timber mills that get compensation," he said.
"My plan was to put an apprentice on, and the business was to be my future superannuation … now the apprentice has left, and I don't have any recourse of getting any money back."
Manjimup Shire president Paul Omodei said he was shocked by the state government's announcement to ban native logging last year.
"I was pretty pissed off, well and truly," he said.
Mr Omodei said while the forestry management agreement was set to end in 2023-24, no-one was expecting the ban, and there was no warning from the government.
Meanwhile in Collie, shire president Sarah Stanley said the move away from coal announced last month had been a long time coming.
"We've been talking about life after coal for decades. We've always known it would come to and end at some point," she said.
Collie comparison sparks anger
For Mr Omodei, Collie's coal transition highlights everything he feels went wrong in his town.
"If you compare our transition package to Collie's … they are well in front of us."
But Labor MP for Warren-Blackwood Jane Kelsbie said the two towns should not be compared.
"I'm not interested in tit for tat with Collie, I don't think that's helpful," she said.
"We've got a significant support package on the table [in Manjimup]."
It is a different story in Collie, where mining workers told the ABC that while there was some uncertainty about their future, there were options on the table.
Other industries are growing in the region, including pumped hydro and graphite mining.
Coal mining engineer Wayne Loxton said people were "jumping on training options with great guns".
"I think if we get some industry coming in, [a smooth transition] can be done."
While Collie's economy has relied on coal for decades, Manjimup's is more diverse — with agriculture a huge part of the town.
But Michael Drake said that was not enough to keep former timber workers in the region.
"A lot will probably leave town, because how much work is there in the area really … there's a bit of seasonal agriculture work, but not a lot."
Community engagement is key
If there was an expert in helping a community through change, it would be Bank of Ideas founder Peter Kenyon, who has spent years studying the best way to build regional communities.
He said transitions away from major rural industries had to happen on a community level.
"We need to spend time listening to local people engaging in genuine conversation."
In Collie, there is a "big pot of money" on the table — $662 million for the transition, with about half of that going to site rehabilitation.
Labor Member for Collie-Preston Jodie Hanns said locals were involved in spending that money.
"There are union representatives, there are absolutely local government representatives — people who live and work in Collie — sitting on those particular groups," she said.
"The Bank of Ideas is definitely on the money — we have as a community, the ability to build our future.
"We've got significant state government investment, we've got a really active local government, we've got a fabulous community here and we really need to work together to shape our future."
Meanwhile, in Manjimup, community members point to a lack of government communication on the ground.
"We believe we are not being listened to," Mr Omodei said.
Mr Omodei said when the end of old growth logging was announced in 2001, a government representative was stationed in Manjimup for 18 months so anyone impacted by the transition could physically visit that person to apply for compensation.
"That's not happening on this occasion," he said.
