Seeding future growth
Nursery hopes to open new horticulture operation in early 2019
THE Toowoomba region’s newest and most advanced seedling operation will supply more than 100 million vegetable plants to the east coast market within the first two years.
Construction work is in full swing at the new Boomaroo Nurseries intensive horticulture project in Southbrook, marking the Victorian company’s full expansion into Queensland.
Based on 14 hectares, the new climate-controlled project will grow seedlings for lettuce, celery, brassicas, Asian vegetables, leafy greens and fruiting crops such as tomatoes, chillies and capsicums.
From there, the plants would be on-sold to farmers across Australia.
Managing director Eric Jacometti said the Southbrook operation would be one of the most advanced of its kind in the world.
“Fully automated greenhouses will become increasingly more important for the development of sustainable business practices in the region by providing a consistent supply of quality plants to local growers and consumers,” he said.
“The no-touch growing system Boomaroo Nurseries designed in Southbrook will have state-of-the-art germination chambers, automated loading benches, fibre optics, and tailor-made software and machinery.”
Toowoomba-based Newlands Group is in charge of civil construction for the project.
Mr Jacometti said the company hoped to increase its Toowoomba workforce next year.