Exporter expands to Dooen terminal
The Wimmera’s growing stature as a prime Victorian location for large-scale industrial development has continued with an $8-million project earmarked for Dooen, north of Horsham.
Export hay-processing company Johnson Asahi has confirmed expansion plans as part of a relocation project to Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.
Johnson Asahi has been exporting Wimmera hay from its Plumpton Road processing plant in Horsham for the past 23 years.
It now processes 100,000 metric tonnes of hay and straw, valued at about $25-million, a year.
Johnson Asahi director Mark Johnson said the first stage of the development would start with construction of three major hay storage sheds and a weighbridge before the next hay season.
“We’re aiming to start stage one as soon as possible and have started planning for stage two, a processing factory, to be built within three years,” he said.
“The new developments will potentially increase the need for people additional to the 30 already employed, which is very positive for the business and the region.
“We are very proud of our 23-year history in Horsham and will continue to work with growers in the region to further expand our production and storage capacity.”
Confirmation of the move also represents a major milestone for the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal, designed to provide efficient rail freight movement for products out of the region.
Johnson Asahi will be the first business to relocate to the terminal precinct on Freight Terminal Road since the terminal, a long-term regional project, opened in 2012.
Horsham Rural City Council planning and economic director Angela Murphy said Johnson Asahi was paving the way for other large-scale businesses requiring efficient road-rail freight services to become established or shift to the terminal precinct.
She said the council was working on ways to help businesses keen to move and make the most of the precinct as seamless as possible.
“We’re looking forward to an expansion of the site,” she said.
“The terminal opened in 2012 after years of planning went into the project.
“The Johnson Asahi move is significant and a reflection of the effort of making this facility a reality. The terminal is not only paving the way for export opportunities out of Horsham, but is helping to open doors from the overall region to the world.
“We look forward to other organisations keen to explore the potential of basing themselves at such a prime transport-friendly site.”
Ms Murphy said the Horsham council and Johnson Asahi had a rich and productive working relationship.
“It was 23 years ago that the council and Johnson Asahi worked together to set up the factory in Plumpton Road,” she said.
“We’re looking forward to working with the company again to relocate it to the WIFT precinct to improve freight efficiencies and allow for company expansion.
“Johnson Asahi will be investing about $8-million in the project, which provides a huge economic benefit to the region.
“We’re very happy to see this going ahead and look forward to continuing to assist in the transition.”