Tuesday, 02 October 2012 16:14

Fonterra to close Oz plant

Written by 

Fonterra is closing a plant in Victoria as part of a review of its Australian operations. Its manufacturing site at Cororooke will close next year.

Fonterra Ingredients Australia managing director, Simon Bromell says the co-op is also starting a three-year program of investment and upgrades at its manufacturing sites in Victoria.

"To maintain our leading market positions, compete effectively on the world stage and continue to deliver a strong milk price to our farmers, we must ensure our manufacturing sites are efficient and capable of handling the growth we anticipate in the future," he says.

"With that in mind, we have reconfirmed plans to invest $20 million in site upgrades at Cobden and Dennington over the next three years, but we have also had to make the extremely difficult decision to close one site, at Cororooke.

"The Cororooke plant is over 100 years old and needs major upgrades to meet changing environmental and production standards. While our first preference is always to upgrade and maintain our sites, the challenges we face and the barriers to modernising this particular plant mean the most responsible thing to do is close it.

"This has been a tough decision and not one we have reached lightly. We have explored all alternative options to keep the site open but they were not commercially viable. We employ 130 people at Cororooke and supporting these people is our top priority at the moment. We wanted to give our people as much notice as possible, and we are working closely with all employees and their families to support them as we work through a staged closure process over the next year."

More like this

El Niño Summer: Terravest on Preparing Dairy Sheds Now

After a winter of frozen pipework and refrigeration call-outs, Terravest chief executive Kip Bodle and chief operating officer Luke Walker explain why this El Niño summer calls for a different kind of preparation, before the first heatwave finds the weak points for you.

Why 'Fork to Farm' Beats Farm to Fork, Expert Says

In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.

Featured

Editorial: Drones Are Not Toys

OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.

Opuha Dam Commissions New Valve in Major Flood Safety Upgrade

Opuha Dam's ability to protect South Canterbury communities from major flooding has taken a significant step forward, with Opuha Water Limited (OWL) successfully commissioning a new outlet valve capable of releasing record volumes of water from the dam ahead of a weather event.

Freshwater Farm Plan Changes Welcomed by Primary Sector

There's been widespread support from the primary sector for the Government's announcement on changes to freshwater farm plans that come under the Natural Environment Bill, which is now set to replace the existing RMA.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter