Sunshine Coast Airport to feature food and beverage manufacturing hub
A multimillion-dollar Australian-first food and beverage manufacturing hub at Sunshine Coast Airport is being touted as a game-changer for the region’s small businesses.
Business
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Food and drink producers will have an easier route to the world stage with a purpose-built food and beverage manufacturing precinct taking off at the Sunshine Coast Airport.
Food and Agribusiness Network received a federal government grant worth $8.78m for its Turbine Precinct project to position the Sunshine Coast as an epicentre for supporting food and beverage businesses to scale.
The project will be designed to drive innovation, reduce barriers to scale, increase productivity for food and beverage manufacturers and open up new national and international export markets.
It will give small businesses and start-ups access to equipment and resources needed to go to market or to expand globally.
Food and Agribusiness Network chief executive Emma Greenhatch said she was excited to reveal the preliminary plans.
She said it would support existing businesses, start-ups or people with “great ideas” in the food, agribusiness and beverage sectors.
“The vision of the Turbine Precinct is to create a blueprint for the future of Australian food and beverage manufacturing, where industry, research, government and education and training providers collectively unlock growth and drive innovation,” Ms Greenhatch said.
“Over the past six years FAN has created a unique, collaborative ecosystem to support the growth of the food and agribusiness industry in the greater Sunshine Coast region.
“Turbine will take this to the next level, providing advanced manufacturing capability, critical services and education and training to turbocharge industry growth.”
Ms Greenhatch said funding of about $8m would be needed for future stages of the development.
Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said the funding from the Modern Manufacturing Initiative Transition grant would transform the region’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.
“This model is an Australian-first. The Turbine Precinct will provide local food and beverage businesses with end-to-end support and it will be the envy of the world.”
“This Federal funding directly supports the development of the Turbine Precinct’s common use infrastructure, collaborative manufacturing services and research capabilities.”
Being located at the airport will give businesses the unique ability to more easily access domestic and international markets.
Sunshine Coast Airport chief executive Andrew Brodie welcomed the funding announcement.
“This facility is consistent with our vision for the airport as outlined in our Airport Master Plan 2040,” he said.
The precinct is expected to open in late 2023 with the initial focus on beverage manufacturing.
It will expand to include advanced food manufacturing from 2024.
The project is also supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Business Council and Food Innovation Australia.
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