I am pleased to announce that leading Australian-owned meat processor, Nolan Meats, is to receive a $1.6 million grant to assist in a five-year expansion programme for its Gympie abattoir.
Expansion of the plant's export potential will provide greater training opportunities for workers and a significant number of extra jobs for the region.
The project represents the start of a $20 million five-year expansion programme for the abattoir.
Up to 150 permanent and 30 contract jobs are expected to be created for Cooloola Shire and surrounding regions as a result of the expansion.
The funds have been provided under the Dairy Regional Assistance Programme, which funds new projects around Australia in communities affected by dairy de-regulation. So far 92 projects have been supported.
Nolan Meats abattoir is a modern, well equipped facility. There are approximately 114 dairy farms in the surrounding Cooloola region.
This is the biggest project to receive assistance under the Dairy Regional Assistance Programme. The company is also seeking $1.2 million from the Queensland Government. However, State funds are yet to be committed to the project.
The Federal Government recently announced $140 million supplementary assistance to the dairy industry, part of which has been allocated to the Dairy Regional Assistance Programme bringing total funding available for this programme to
$65 million.
Nolan Meats is a registered training organisation and was a State finalist in the 1998-99 "Workplace Rehabilitation Excellence Award", highlighting the firm's commitment to excellence in human resource management.
The Nolan Meats project will result in training opportunities for workers, in particular those seeking to acquire skills and experience.
29 May 2001