100 jobs under plan to build 75 new greenhouses for large tomato, capsicum market garden near Gawler

Up to 100 jobs would be created under a plan to build a huge new market garden with 75 greenhouses north of Adelaide.

A large-scale horticultural food production facility planned for north of Adelaide would grow about six million kilos of tomatos annually and create up to 100 new jobs, plans show.

About 75 new greenhouses would be built across the 60,000 sqm site at Ward Belt, west of Gawler, for capsicum and tomato production.

The massive market garden includes two different kinds of greenhouses, creating between 80 and 100 jobs, mostly casual positions, including up to 25 full-time roles.

Documents submitted to Plan SA show the project includes six packing sheds, water tanks, and a 12-bed workers’ accommodation unit with lounge and kitchen areas.

The site, seen from the air, where the large market garden would go.

A similar kind of greenhouse that could be built at the site. Picture: VegetablesWA/Frances Andrijich

Fifteen 100m-long greenhouses would be built to grow about six million kilos of tomatoes annually and 59 others measuring 64m long would produce about 4,400,000 of capsicums a year.

Two semi-trailer pick-ups are expected every weekday, with one on Saturday. Picking operations will occur seven days a week during daylight hours.

About 60 staff would be on site every day.

A 10m land buffer will separate the greenhouses from surrounding land.

Capsicum tree waste would be composted, while tomato waste will be stockpiled and burned when allowed in small piles across the site.

Up to 100 jobs would be created and 75 greenhouses built under a plan for a huge commercial market garden facility north of Adelaide.

The block of land at Whitelaw Rd, just off the Northern Expressway, was bought in March by the Le Family Trust and has been used for agricultural for 70-odd years.

It is currently empty, aside from some illegal dumping.

The plans are open for public consultation until September 19.

Originally published as 100 jobs under plan to build 75 new greenhouses for large tomato, capsicum market garden near Gawler