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Fruit & Vegetable Processing and Manufacturing: ‘The Cannery’ coming to life in Withcott, Qld

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Why should anyone be interested in this?

Answer: We’re not only meeting but exceeding Government policy objectives and community expectations concerning the regeneration of Australian based manufacturing, and will be delivering economic, community benefits and regional jobs and social results to Regional Queensland serving Australia-wide markets, with a minimum five-fold increase in vegetable production.

Results:

• From completion of Stage 2 in early 2026 - we will create 150 jobs rising to 500 jobs within four to five years requiring upskilling, IT training, and the introduction of ‘state of the art’ technology. This will deliver long-term skilled inter-generational employment (especially on-farm) in a regionally and economically important agricultural part of Queensland (The Food Bowl of Australia® also known as Australia’s Salad Bowl®).

• The elimination of significant imports of fruit and vegetable products, including canned, powdered, juiced, and frozen fruit and vegetable products, will be replaced by Australian grown products from regional fruit and vegetable growers throughout Queensland and especially in the Lockyer Valley, the Somerset, Fassifern, Scenic Rim and the Darling Downs and Bundaberg.

• The ultimate introduction of a 100% ‘off grid’ power supply by the creation of a methane powered plant reliant upon green waste – Stage 4 or sooner if the funding is raised. Together, this facility with its steam generated production systems, will produce major agricultural and manufacturing and operational improvements, significantly contributing to operational cost reductions, whilst delivering 24 hour / 7 day a week access to ‘The Cannery’ for Fruit & Veggie Growers from as far away as Bundaberg.

• The recycling of 100% of all water used on-site ensures real, demonstrable environmental responsibility and dramatically minimising the impact on precious regional water supplies.

• The introduction of worldwide best existing and established technology to ensure the highest quality products, applying best practice principles in the production of fruit and vegetable products, that will not only accelerate and preserve the economic viability of our Region, but also ensure the consumers of Australia received the best range of products; and the benefits of those Australian grown products at truly competitive prices.

CEO and Managing Director, Colin Dorber said this was just a simple summary of what is coming.

“We have over eighty individual new innovations based on creating a sustainable, socially responsible, ‘green’ and fully integrated food processing facility which addresses the issues of value-added production from the planting of the first seeds to the onsite packaging and sale of the final products,” he said.

“The Cannery will include its own can making and plastic pallet production lines, and deliver many other innovations, together with a high-quality tourist facility and café for consumer pleasure.

“We will also capitalise on the tourism benefits of the beautiful City of Toowoomba (eight minutes away) and its surrounds, plus access to Brisbane West Airport, and the beautiful Lockyer Valley.”

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