Lethbridge food bowl booms

THE rural township of Lethbridge is booming on the back of $50 million worth of new agricultural investments.

Among the new business is a newly approved $20 million fertiliser plant, which will process waste from other intensive operators in the region.

The other large producers in the area include $30 million worth of free-range egg farms.

The developments are contained in a 4000 hectare area of privately owned, farm-zoned land known as the Golden Plains Food Production Precinct.

The precinct has been identified as having the potential to host a major hub of intensive agriculture that could help create hundreds of jobs over the next decade.

It has received $11.78 million in funding from three tiers of government to facilitate the development, including a crucial 18km potable water pipeline that opened last year.

Golden Plains Shire Mayor Helena Kirby is delighted that the new business has seen the precinct achieve more than 30 per cent of its 10-year investment target within 18 months.

“The ... precinct is a major project of council, and has been in the making for quite some time, so it’s wonderful to see it attracting investment and taking shape,” Cr Kirby said.

“The poultry sector has been the main investor, which in turn is attracting complementary industry, such as the fertiliser plant recently approved.”