Inside Cudgera Creek Agricultural Food Hub development

A $72 million food hub has been proposed in the Tweed for producers to showcase their products to commercial and retail buyers. It is also expected to bring between 150 and 400 new jobs.

A development application has been lodged to build an agricultural food hub at Cudgera Creek.

A massive $72 million agricultural food hub is planned for the Tweed as a place food producers can showcase their goods to purchasers and the public.

A development proposal for the Cudgera Creek Agricultural Food Hub has been lodged with the Tweed Shire Council and then referred to the Northern Regional Planning Panel because of its scale.

The proposal, lodged by Cudgera Creek Development Pty Ltd, is for a food hub consisting of 19 industrial sheds.

Company director Anthony Elias said the 53,930sq m site on Cudgera Creek Road would be used for production or packaging and storage space for the Northern Rivers food industry.

He said it would satisfy increasing demand for additional floor space for manufacturing, processing and warehousing of agricultural products for the next 10 years.

“The Cudgera Creek Agricultural Food Hub will create an exciting opportunity for local and regional agricultural producers to prepare and showcase their products to food purchasers, from overseas and domestically and the public generally,” Mr Elias said.

“The intent is to provide for a wholesale function, while allowing for visitors and locals to sample great local and regional produce directly from the producer.”

Mr Elias said there had already been significant interest in the development from primary producers in the Northern Rivers wanting to expand their operations.

He said they ranged from small goods such as macadamia nuts, meat and bakery items to other food industry products.

Mr Elias expected between 150 and 400 jobs to be created over the life of the project.

“If approved, the Cudgera Creek Agricultural Food hub will be built to demand over 5-10 years,” Mr Elias said.

“We expect little impact on neighbours and Pottsville except for local and regional economies including jobs growth and substantial support for our primary producers and the agricultural industry.

“The site is already zoned suitable for the food hub.”

Mr Elias said his family had been involved in large scale agricultural production since 1977 and had been contributing to the rural economy in several NSW regions with interests in Byron, Newrybar and Bangalow.

The Cudgera Creek Agricultural Food Hub is currently under assessment by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.