Sacked Alcoa workers are telling their families they may have to leave Geelong.
The aluminium manufacturer announced on Tuesday it will close its Point Henry smelter, as well as rolling mills at Geelong and Yennora in NSW, affecting almost 1000 workers.
Garry Holmyard, who has worked at the plant for 23 years, says he's already called his wife and realises they may need to relocate for work.
"I don't want to leave, but if it happens, it happens," he said.
"It's a lot of people and families who have got kids. A lot of them are saying they're going to have to sell up as soon as they knew this."
Work colleague Kel Brewer said there will be a lot of people looking for work at the same time when there are no jobs in the region.
"Even though we've talked about it for a while, it is a big shock. It's another nail in the coffin for Geelong," he said.
He said workers in their 50s, like him, may never work again while younger workers will sell up and move.
"A lot of people have mortgages and kids, and families to look after. They're going to struggle to replace what they've got here."
AWU Victorian branch secretary Ben Davis said the job cuts also run the risk of sending Geelong into a recession.
"This has to have an impact across the board. The multiplier effect will be massive," he said outside the plant.
He said workers are devastated as redundancy arrangements in the current workplace agreements didn't consider a plant closure and the notice period is quite short.
The smelter will close on July 31, he said.
