New plans to build $180m+ cannabis facility in Toowoomba

A STATE-OF-THE-ART medicinal cannabis facility could find its home in the Garden City, with plans to produce 80-100 tonnes of the product annually.

Medibis has announced plans to build a medicinal cannabis facility in Toowoomba. Picture: THC Global Source:

A STATE-OF-THE-ART medicinal cannabis facility could find its home in the Garden City, with plans to produce 80-100 tonnes of the product annually.

The Australian-based company, Medibis, is planning to construct and operate a highly automated, pharmaceutical export grade medicinal cannabis cultivation facility in Toowoomba.

The Federal Government granted the venture major project status on July 14 of this year, according to the government's website, which also lists the project as having a capital expenditure of more than $180 million.

This facility is a state-of-the-art glasshouse concept design, covering an area of more than 11 hectares at full capacity.

And Medibis has promised to ensure benefits flow back into the Toowoomba economy, estimating almost 500 people will be needed to operate the business when it is up and running.

The interest from Medibis comes off the back of Asterion's plans to build a $500 million cannabis farm at Wellcamp.

Asterion's project will consist of four glasshouse "modules", capable of producing 500 tonnes a year of dried cannabis for medicinal use, as well as processing, packing and tissue culture facility and administration building.

Medibis' product, according to the Federal Government's website, will "produce high-grade, Good Agricultural and Collection Practice compliant medicinal cannabis (raw flower) and associated refined cannabis extracts for medicinal use".

Medibis managing director and executive director Angus Chapel said the project would strongly support local Australian patients and licensed providers, create immediate job opportunities and long term advanced career paths.

Medibis managing sirector and executive director Angus Chapel.

"This project is expected to generate up to 200 jobs during construction, and almost 500 ongoing jobs when the business is at full capacity," Mr Chapel said.

"Some of these employment opportunities include security, managers, engineers, bio-economists, agricultural specialists, agronomists, warehousing, record keeping analysts, pharmacists, researchers, administrative and technical staff.

"We also plan to work with local education providers, to create opportunities for tertiary students in a real-world agribusiness environment that is truly globally interconnected.

"We want to give Toowoomba locals the first opportunity to realise the investment potential."

Medibis say they were attracted to setting up the facility in Toowoomba, not only thanks to the quality of transport via air, road and rail, which will also support their export plans but also the rich history of agribusiness in the region.

"With the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport and the newly opened Toowoomba Bypass, it is highly accessible with a high-level of local infrastructure available within easy reach," Mr Chapel said.

"At Stage 6, the facility will be producing 80 tonnes of product per annum with a total value of $288 million for export."

Medibis not only plan to construct this world-class facility but aim to redefine cannabis products as a powerful medicine when properly prepared and prescribed appropriately, with the support of recognised research bodies and facilitators.

Their particular interests lie with plant health and the genetics and biochemistry behind the medicinal efficacy of the plants.

This means not only collecting continuous data streams but also having systems in place to analyse and interpret that data to bring real-time improvements not only throughout the growth stages of the plants but ultimately the end product for the patients.

"By supporting targeted clinical trials and evidence based data collection our products will become synonymous with the future of treatment options for specialists and practitioners around the world," Mr Chapel said.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport saidthis was exciting for the region.

"We welcome this investment in the region with Medibis bringing careers and opportunities for local businesses," said Ms Davenport.