A NEW $27.5 million almond processing plant north-east of Murray Downs has been given the green light by Murray River Council.
Mayor Chris Bilkey welcomed the project, which was approved at the council’s March 28 meeting, as a great boost for the council’s north-western area.
“From a council perspective, this investment into our area is another positive milestone for long-term progress for the nut and almond industry, which is already well established in our rural areas around Tooleybuc,” Cr Bilkey said.
“It is also a positive outcome for the Murray Downs community, which has a lot of potential to grow and become an attractive commercial and residential area across the river from Swan Hill.”
Australian Farming Services is building the plant on Swan Hill Road to service the Cadell, Canally and Augusta almond orchards it manages between Tooleybuc and Balranald.
AFS chief executive David Armstrong said work on preparing the site would start next week and it was hoped the facility would be ready for a soft launch next April.
The plant is expected to have the capacity to process up to 30,000 tonnes of almonds and employ about seven permanent staff and more than 60 casual workers during peak periods, when it will operate 24 hours for up to 12 weeks a year.
Planning and environment director Rod Croft said the council received five submissions after the proposal was advertised in January for public comment.
Mr Croft said four submissions were in support and one objected.
Issues identified in the submissions included potential use of the site as an almond plantation, water contamination from an almond plantation, water use by an almond plantation and operational noise impacts from the processing facility.
“The proposed development does not include an almond plantation, therefore water contamination and water use for the proposed development is of minimal environmental impact,” he said.
“It is also important to note that noise impacts have been identified as below the relevant standards via a noise study and are unlikely to cause adverse impacts to adjoining development.
“The almond industry has undergone rapid expansion in recent years and faces a significant shortage in almond processing capacity, so this new facility will position our area well to further support the demand for almonds both domestically and abroad.”
