EXPANDED GYMPIE MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY CREATES HUNDREDS OF JOBS TO BOOST WIDE BAY ECONOMY
An $18 million expansion of the Nolan Meats Pty Ltd meat processing facility in Gympie is now complete, creating new opportunities for local jobseekers, producers and the export market supply chain.
Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien said the Wide Bay region, families and the local economy will all benefit from the improved facility for decades to come.
“This project will help support Wide Bay’s valuable agriculture industry, giving producers opportunities to expand, and it is using world-leading technology including innovative x-ray technology to provide not just jobs, but ongoing career opportunities for local people,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Nolan Meats has a strong track record of delivering employment for Gympie families and even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this expansion created 130 jobs last year alone.
“This investment is putting pay packets on the tables for more than 200 local families all up, and supporting the jobs of hundreds of others, from primary producers to farmworkers, freight drivers, and more, right through the supply chain.”
Mr O’Brien said the business added significant value to Wide Bay’s economy as it employed more than 1 per cent of people in the Gympie region, and injected $197.3 million into the Wide Bay Burnett economy through the procurement of cattle in 2020.
“Nolan’s is 100 per cent Australian family-owned, founded right here in Gympie, and they have a strong track record of backing Gympie and giving back to the community so it’s great to see them going from strength to strength through this project,” Mr O’Brien said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the project supported 45 jobs during construction and creates another 200 ongoing jobs.
“The project provides structured pathways for young people in the region to transition from school to full-time employment and training,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Over a third of all positions at Nolan Meats are filled by young workers and this expansion will ensure there is a further increase in quality jobs here over the next three to five years.”
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the facility will now double its daily processing capacity, reduce the amount of manual handling, improve the ergonomics of tasks and create a safer and more comfortable working environment.
“The project has allowed Nolan Meats to fully utilise the distribution centre and the expanded boning, chilling and co-products areas, delivering more fantastic produce and with it local jobs,” Mr Littleproud said.
The project was jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $4,979,706 and Nolan Meats Pty Ltd $13,020,294.
