Orchy fruit juices calls for help to keep jobs in Redlands

Facing the threat of development, iconic Orchy fruit juices is calling on Redland City Council and the State Government to help keep the company local.

Orchy staff (left to right) Mikayla Genzel, Annette Grice, Annette le Blang, Gaylene Pesch, Peter Foley. Photo. supplied.

The owners of Orchy fruit juices have called on Redland City Council and the State Government to support the future of the company and its history in the Redlands after a development application for the site in Thornlands lapsed yesterday.

Bevco Business Development Manager Elizabeth Etherington said the company only heard about the development application on social media when the DA was lodged in March.

She said finding out via social media had been “very disappointing”.

“We have a lease for a number of years, which is applicable under the current owner and any future owner,” Ms Etherington said.

“We will continue to look at contingencies and speak to local Government and State Government for support.”

Land owner Corgold lodged an application with Council in March to subdivide the property, at 67-85 Kinross Rd, into 50 lots.

Following a failure to comply with a development application request from Council, the application lapsed yesterday.

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Orchy fruit beverages is calling on community and government to help protect the local business. Photo. Paula Shearer

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Ms Etherington said Orchy fruit beverages were “iconic, it’s produced right here in the Redlands and our factory has been employing local people for over 65 years”.

“Back in 50s, within the Kinross Road precinct, families grew a variety of fruits and berries, and the Redlands was recognised as the fruit bowl of Brisbane. Employment grew and the community grew,” she said.

“Both Local and State Governments encourage and support business to “Value add”. And this is exactly what we’ve done.”

Orchy fruit beverages is calling on State Government and Council to support the business and employment in the Redlands. Photo Paula Shearer

Ms Etherington said the company had expanded from a “canning shed in the 60s to a chilled and extended life fruit juice beverage ‘export’ bottler”

“We also support local R&D for “start up families”, the Queensland University and distribute throughout the whole of the Eastern seaboard,” she said.

“But our biggest asset is our Employees, most based in the Redlands.”

Ms Etherington also called on Council to protect the site’s green-space.

“With nearly half of the land ... zoned green-space (we) ..... understood council’s position was to never develop ‘green-space’ land,” she said.

“Redland City Councillors and State Government representative we ask for your support and the support of our local community to retain our history, our diversity and encourage growth and employment within the Redlands.”

Iconic Redlands’ Orchy fruit juices is calling on community for support in the fight to stop future development. Photo. Paula Shearer

In correspondence to Corgold Pty Ltd in March, Council outlined the development application had not been properly made because the application fee had not been paid.

The letter to East Coast Surveys, acting on behalf of Corgold Pty Ltd said: “The application has not been accompanied by the required application fee. The assessment

fee is $63,409.00. An outstanding fee of $63,409.00 is required. Please find an invoice

attached which includes a fee calculation breakdown.”

“Pursuant to the Development Assessment Rules, the applicant must undertake the actions

identified above within 20 business days of this notice or otherwise, the application will be taken to have not been made.”

Council issued a letter to the developer yesterday outlining that “as you did not take the actions identified in Council’s Action Notice within 20 business days, the application has been returned.”

Corgold Pty Ltd did not respond to questions from the News.