PIGGERY EXPANSION: Development to bring jobs

The expansion will include the construction of 12 state-of-the-art sheds.

A South Burnett piggery has started a huge expansion project. Picture: Contributed

A SOUTH Burnett piggery has started a huge expansion project which will bring more full-time jobs to the region.

The expansion of Windera Farm, Morning Hills, will increase capacity from 5200 standard pig units to 28,500.

Wilson Pork Co operations manager Nathan Wilson said the development would come with employment opportunities.

"Three or four months ago we had one full-time employee,” Mr Wilson said.

"By the time we reach full capacity in Christmas 2020, I would like to think we will have 10 full-time people on the farm, possibly more.”

The expansion will include the construction of 12 state-of-the-art sheds.

Mr Wilson said concreting would start this Thursday before the sheds started arriving next week.

He was excited by the growth of the piggery and believed there were a lot of benefits to the expansion.

"I think there is efficiency in being big - there isn't with 100 pigs a week, but there is with 1000,” Mr Wilson said.

Residents in the area had some concerns about the upgrade, particularly about the extra traffic it would bring to an already notorious stretch of Kratzmann Rd.

South Burnett Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff said she understood the residents' concerns about the narrow sections of the road.

"They will be addressed as part of the development and also the environmental concerns have all been through the proper process,” Cr Duff said.

"The piggery is in a rural setting where piggeries need to be and will bring some much-needed jobs and industry to our region.”

Mr Wilson said there had been an application lodged for an upgrade to the intersection of Murgon/Gayndah Rd on Kratzmann Rd.

He assured residents they would not waste any time getting started, once it was approved.

"We will go straight to tender and straight to work,” he said.

Originally published as PIGGERY EXPANSION: Development to bring jobs