New jobs as Wallace Group expands
Agricultural recyclers Wallace Group is extending its operations into Southland, creating 50 seasonal jobs.
The group announced yesterday the new site in Mataura will begin operation next Wednesday.
About 20 seasonal contracting and 30 seasonal staffing jobs have been created.
Last year, there were reports the market was in decline, but Wallace Group chief executive Graham Shortland said the market had been turning back around, providing an opportunity for the business to expand.
‘‘The market has gotten a bit better than what it was one, two, three years ago. For the smaller skins, it’s not all rosy, but calf skins have gotten better in the past year.’’
About $20,000 had been spent on the expansion, which included trucks, equipment and capital items.
Having the site based in Mataura was geographically ideal, and Southland’s dairy and farming industry made the region a good choice, Shortland said.
‘‘We are committed to extending collection coverage and providing a timely and efficient service for removing waste materials and turning them into higher value products.
‘‘While we have decades of experience in casualty cow collection and recycling of agricultural wastes, we are always looking for creative ways we can add value to
the industry.’’
The expansion had been in the pipeline for several months before the existing building became available.
Engineering and project work is getting it up to speed for the new business before its official opening.
Shortland said the new venture would benefit the region economically, and offer work to those who might not otherwise not be employed.
He also believed there was a gap in the market for the service.
‘‘The recycling of co-products from the agricultural sector performs a valuable service for farmers and processors, as well as protecting the natural environment from the impact of dead stock.’’
Wallace Group picks up about half a million slink lambs annually in the South Island and around 40-50,000 in the North Island.
The company also provides a year round casualty cow collection service to farmers in most New Zealand regions. Shortland said there had been a huge push towards having customised vehicles for the service.
‘‘We are on a mission to strengthen the agrirecycling industry. We have created the nationwide network to remove hundreds of thousands of dead stock that would otherwise be left on the land – which has a very positive impact on the environment – and the processing capability to create a wide rage of products from meat and bone meals, to hides and skins for export,’’ Shortland said.
The company would export internationally, mainly to China and Italy.