Nod for glasshouse vegetable project

The Wimmera’s foray into intensive horticultural production will start in earnest in March with construction starting on a $90-million hydroponic vegetable farm near Stawell.

Agribusiness Nectar Farms has gained a Northern Grampians Shire planning permit for the project and expects to plant crops by the end of the year.

Based at Bulgana Green Power Hub at Joel Joel, Nectar Farms’ expansive glasshouse will be able to access energy generated by wind turbines for less than half the standard price of a retail energy contract.

Northern Grampians mayor Kevin Irwin said the development had been a long process with some changes along the way.

“But after the permit was submitted we delivered the approval within the eight-week timeframe we committed to,” he said.

“The project is a game changer for Northern Grampians Shire.

“Now we’re looking for families to move to the area and we’ve been lobbying hard for assistance to establish new housing to accommodate that.”

News of the council granting a planning permit comes off the back of the first of 56 wind turbines installed at the site and more being preassembled.

By growing their crops in protected environments such as glasshouses, using leading-edge technology and exploiting all-year-round production windows, Nectar Farms plans to create quality produce and year-round supply capabilities.

The controlled cropping environments are designed to enhance automated crop production and lead to less labour, use less water energy and require less land. They also have major environmental benefits to create a sustainable solution for long-term supply.