New potato factory for Victoria’s Wimmera

Public consultation has begun on the proposed development of a new frozen potato chip manufacturing facility in Victoria’s Wimmera.

Public consultation has opened on the proposed development of a frozen potato chip manufacturing facility in Victoria’s Wimmera.

Dutch frozen potato products manufacturer Farm Frites, which also has an Australian arm, have proposed a $425m facility at Dooen’s Wimmera Agriculture and Logistics Hub.

It will be Farm Frites first Australian factory, after previously importing products from the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland.

Horsham mayor Ian Ross said there has been a majority of support for the project in the area from the council and community, with the project expected to create 245 permanent jobs, and 750 construction jobs.

“It’s a sustainable development that will help the diversity of employment in Horsham, and draw potatoes from the coast of Victoria and South Australia,” he said.

“We’re an agricultural municipality and it adds another string to our bow.

“There’s another food factory approaching us to be based in Horsham, and it makes us really optimistic for the future and our expected growth will be higher than what the government is predicting.”

The facility is expected to accept up to 500,000 tonnes of raw potatoes from Victoria and South Australia, and have the capacity to produce approximately 300,000 tonnes of product per year.

The Dooen site was selected as the ideal location due to its proximity to the best potato growing areas in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, as well as its ideal connections to the national road freight and rail network.

Pending approvals, construction is slated to begin in 2026, with the facility to open in early 2027.

Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority are seeking comments from anyone who may be affected by the proposal.

Originally published as New potato factory for Victoria’s Wimmera