Greenham’s Tongala abattoir: $50 million redevelopment to create 230 jobs
After a rocky start to the year, Greenham’s Tongala abattoir is about to be bigger than ever before – creating 230 new jobs. SEE THE PLANS
Greenham’s Tongala abattoir is getting a $50 million redevelopment, expected to create 230 full-time jobs.
The company revealed the plans today and said the new facility would increase the site’s production capability from 50 tonnes a day to 200 tonnes a day and give access to over ten new export markets.
“We are seeing increasing demand for high-quality Australian beef from our customers and this expansion at Tongala will allow our business to grow with that demand,” said managing director Peter Greenham.
“It also provides new opportunities for beef producers in the Goulburn Valley who join our supplier program.”
Construction will begin in August this year and is expected to be completed by June next year.
It comes after the company closed part its operations at Tongala in February, citing the impact of coronavirus on meat markets and the exit of many dairy farms in the region for causing the business to become uncompetitive.
About 60 job losses were reported at the time.
The Victorian Government will contribute funding to the abattoir’s redevelopment through its Regional Jobs Fund, but would not disclose how much.
Regional Development Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the government were “helping the Goulburn Valley move ahead”.
“We’ll support operations like Greenham and Sons that are committed to their local community and have a strategy to expand their reach and their workforce,” she said.
Northern Victoria MP Mark Gepp added that it would make a “real difference” to the Goulburn Valley with “more jobs for locals and a secure future for those workers who already have jobs”.
The government’s statement said the funding would allow the business to modernise its site by investing in state-of-the art meat processing equipment, energy saving recycling plant and equipment, and new cattle unloading facilities including covered stockyards.
It will also include the construction of a “chilled beef” production facility.
Greenham’s free-range barley-fed brand, Wanderer, will be processed at the facility as well as a new brand currently in development that will be exclusive to the Tongala site.
The company said it would continue accepting all cows and bulls as business as usual while the new facility is being constructed.
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