$50 million for fish food factory

February 2017 | David Claridge

LOCAL MEDIA outlets have recently reported that an aquaculture feedmill facility is to be built in Westbury for Ridley Corporation, creating jobs and business to the area in the process.

Ridley Corporation currently supply food to Tasmania’s salmon industry from Queensland. This new mill will lead to reduced supply costs and shorter delivery times.

The $50 million investment is expected to create 20 fulltime jobs and is estimated that it will provide work for upto 250 contractors and an $85 million boost to the economy just in the production stage.

Ridley’s Group Manager Briannon Avery took the time to answer some questions about what we can expect from the mill.

David: “What sort of training will people who want to work at the mill need?”

Briannon: We will require a range of skills amongst the employee group at Westbury. This will range from trade qualified people through to experienced plant and equipment operators and warehouse staff. A strong focus on safety, leadership and knowledge of competitive manufacturing principals will be well regarded.

David: “What sort of local products will the mill be accessing to make feed with?”

Briannon: “Fish feed is made from a range of ingredients, including grains such as wheat, and protein meals from both animal and plant based sources. If local raw materials are available that meet our quality requirements, Ridley will look to engage those suppliers.”

David: “Where will the produced feed likely go to once produced?”

Briannon: “Feed manufactured at the Westbury facility will primarily supply the Tasmanian Salmon industry, with some feed also supplying interstate and New Zealand producers.”

Ridley’s Managing Director and CEO Tim Hart has explained in a media release that the company’s commitment to a new state-of-the-art feedmill in Tasmania supports their focus on growing with their customers along with the sustained growth of aquaculture production in the region.

“The Westbury region is ideal due to its proximity to raw materials supply, with its location enabling the service of customers’ expansion much more efficiently,” Mr Hart said.

“The feedmill will provide significant local employment opportunities, not only during the period of construction but also for the mill operators and local supply chain, including opportunities for local primary producers to supply the mill with inbound raw materials.”

The Tasmanian Government will provide $2 million towards the project to attract business and jobs to Tasmania as part of its Business and Jobs attraction initiative.