Jail boss in court over kid porn
AN $8 million drying machine that turns milk into powder has been lifted into place as a North Geelong milk-processing plant continues to take shape.
Corio Bay Dairy Group’s $55 million facility to produce organic powered milk and infant formula is due to open between March and June this year.
When fully operational the facility on Cowie St would be capable of processing 60 million litres of milk annually, the group’s chief financial officer Josh Fletcher said.
“At this stage we are going to have about 20-odd jobs (when the facility opens) that will grow to 40 jobs eventually, depending on milk supply,” Mr Fletcher said.
He said about 80 per cent of the powder produced at the facility would be exported to Asia.
The plant is expected to give organic dairy farmers a vital “spring solution” for the calving season’s spike in milk supply.
Milk processed next door at Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia will be used at the facility.
The Corio Bay Dairy Group is a joint venture between Wattle Health Australia, Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia and Niche Dairy.
A FORMER Geelong prison boss could land himself behind bars with inmates he once oversaw after signalling his intention to plead guilty to child porn offences.
Wayne Harper, the former general manager of Marngoneet Correctional Centre, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court yesterday for a brief hearing.
The Leopold man, 57, was charged in September with knowingly possessing child abuse material and child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.
Mr Harper abruptly left his role at the medium-security prison after the charges were laid.
Defence lawyer Adrian Paull told the court his client would plead guilty and asked for a two-hour hearing to be scheduled in March, noting that sensitive information was likely to be raised during the plea.
“I think there will be some particular issues with this matter that may take some time,” he said.
“If Mr Harper receives a term of imprisonment, management in custody will be a particular issue.”
Magistrate Franz Holzer said he believed the plea hearing could be finalised within a shorter timeframe and adjourned the case to February 6.
The charges against Mr Harper were laid following an investigation by specialist child-abuse detectives from Geelong. It is understood his office at the jail was thoroughly searched as part of the investigation.
Marngoneet Correctional Centre contains both the 559bed Marngoneet jail and the adjoining Karreenga, a 300bed complex housing many sex offenders.
Mr Harper joined Marngoneet as a casual prison officer in 2006 — the same year the jail opened — following careers in the manufacturing and retail industries. During his career with Corrections Victoria, he also served as general manager of both the Barwon and Loddon prisons.
After Mr Harper was charged, the Department of Justice and Community Safety said it took a “zero-tolerance approach” to breaches of its code of conduct.
“The integrity of Victoria’s corrections system is of the highest priority and all staff are required to uphold the utmost levels of professionalism and ethics,” a statement from the department said.
Mr Harper remains on bail ahead of his plea hearing next month.