Jobs on the horizon with plans for a macadamia facility expansion lodged with council

A development application has been lodged on behalf of Marquis Macadamias to expand their Oakwood facility. Here’s what its approval could mean for Bundy.

If approved, the expansion of the Marquis Macadamias facility will see capacity increase to 30,000 tonnes.

A local macadamia processing facility could increase throughput from more than 10,000 to 30,000 tonnes if a development application made to council is approved.

The application submitted on behalf of Marquis Macadamias Limited outlines how the company was seeking a development permit for a boundary realignment and material change of use for high impact industry over land on Rosedale Rd at Oakwood.

“The expansion works are driven by the facility’s intention to increase annual throughput from 10,213 t of macadamias to 30,000 t at 10 per cent moisture content,” the application states.

“The current macadamia nut processing facility does not have the facilities or space required to accommodate the intended growth onsite.

“The proposed development will provide expanded, purpose-built facilities that facilitates current and future delivery to Marquis Macadamias.

“The expansion intends to further solidify Bundaberg as the largest macadamia-producing region in Australia, bringing an additional 50 local jobs, and 30 jobs created in the construction phase.”

Last month Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick was in Bundaberg to announce a $13.3 million expansion for the facility at Oakwood with a contribution from the government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.

The plans include cold room storage and a solar farm.

The expansion would include a new cold storage warehouse for final product to ensure the company can ship high quality product to their customers for 12 months of the year.

It will also include a nut in shell drying and storage prior to processing and a solar farm to generate power to their operations.

Marquis Macadamias CEO Larry McHugh said the project would not only create new jobs in the Bundaberg factory, but many others on farm and in contractors, and suppliers of goods and services to the farm and the factories.

“(The expansion) will ensure local growers have a home for their product and can take advantage of export opportunities and increase the number of growers who can use these export opportunities,” he said.

“With the agricultural industry and food manufacturing being a strong pillar during the COVID-19 pandemic, this expansion will help ensure our economy’s recovery continues on its strong upward trajectory.

“It puts Bundaberg on the international map for supply of high quality agricultural product.”