Sim Fresh Farms to begin development of rural workers accommodation

A plan for rural worker’s accommodation near Bundaberg has been revealed in the hope it entices more helping hands for the region’s citrus industry.

A lodgement of new rural worker’s accommodation has been approved by the Bundaberg Regional Council for four dwellings outside of Gin Gin.

This will provide housing for citrus farm workers.

According to the development application before the council, accommodation spaces are set to include a number of two and six person dorm rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor common rooms, bathrooms, storage, car park and combined living, dining and kitchen areas.

It would primarily house overseas staff under the Seasonal Workers Program with space for twenty-four workers involved in farming operations including packing, picking and general crop maintenance.

Proposed construction plan for accommodation

The location backs onto the Kolan River and accommodation workers are likely to have riverfront views. The site is roughly 12 km from Gin Gin and will provide workers easy access to crops.

Insight SJC has the contract to develop the site on behalf of Simfresh, and a spokesman told the NewsMail of the increasingly common desire to have labour on site.

“It‘s of benefit to have the workers live on the farm, especially if they are an overseas workforce,” he said.

Simfresh is owned by the Simonetta Group which currently has more than 70 positions available for energetic farm hands to cover various roles including picking, pruning and general farm labour.

Once the approval process has been finalised in the coming weeks, development will begin at the location.

Originally published as Sim Fresh Farms to begin development of rural workers accommodation