Abattoir jobs boost
A $7.5 million expansion of a Trafalgar abattoir is set to expand export opportunities and boost employment with almost 90 new jobs.
Victoria Valley Meat Exports at Trafalgar will invest $7.5 million to upgrade facilities to support growth in key export markets in the United States and South East Asia.
The project will be assisted by state government funds through the Latrobe Valley Economic Facilitation Fund.
The state government has announced a $2.7 million package to five businesses that will create another 257 new jobs and generate more than $36.3 million in local investment.
The package also will create new jobs at the Trafalgar Medical Centre and will enable significant expansions of Gibson Ground spread, Mecrus Group who operate Gippsland Strawberries, and Riviera Farms.
Government funds in each of the individual projects have not been disclosed but total $2.7 million for the five businesses.
Victoria Valley Meat Exports part owner Peter Polovinka said the grant would support a major expansion of the Trafalgar abattoir including major redevelopment of the cutting and boning rooms to cater for export demand. This is the second state government grant received by the company, with the stage one expansion receiving a $1.2 million grant in October 2016.
Mr Polovinka welcomed the funds, saying it would assist in a second stage expansion of the Trafalgar facility and create another 80 to 90 jobs.
“It is allowing us to expand and keep up with production and provide a full international export line.
“The demand is there so we are going to need this expansion,” he said.
Mr Polovinka said the works included major expansion to the cutting and boning rooms as well as new loading docks, new chilling rooms, a marshalling area and storage facilities.
The stage one expansion allowed VVME to value add to the industry and export products including offal, hearts, kidneys and livers to premium niche markets in Japan, Europe and Russia.
Mr Polovinka confirmed the next stage would allow them to meet the growing demand for beef in United States and South East Asia markets.
He said they also would continue to meet the demand of domestic customers.
The premier’s office said funding for the Trafalgar Medical Centre would assist a $500,000 extension and fitout of the existing centre to enable development of a primary care centre, creating 10 new jobs.
The Mecrus Group, who operate a Gippsland Strawberries operation at Shady Creek, is further expanding with a $27 million new facility at Hazelwood, expected to create more than 100 new jobs.
Gibson Groundspread at Trafalgar also is undertaking a major expansion with a major transport operation to be developed at Rosedale. The premier’s office said the $9.3 million project would create about 20 jobs.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said the jobs announcements were another vote of confidence in the Latrobe Valley workers, industries and businesses.
“We’re proud of the skills and expertise we have here in the Valley and we’re working hard every day to create hundreds of new jobs thanks to this unique fund,” she said.
Since it was created the Latrobe Valley Economic Facilitation Fund has created 836 new jobs and delivered $86.9 million of private investment.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the dedicated fund enabled the government to back local businesses to create jobs and deliver a strong future.
“Whether it’s fixing the Gippsland Line, rebuilding local schools or supporting businesses to deliver new jobs, the Labor government is getting it done right across the Latrobe Valley,” he said.