Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh and Member for Mildura Peter Crisp officially opened a $1 million fruit treatment facility at Wakefield Transport on Wednesday.
According to the media release by the Premier of Victoria, the new treatment facility will help the fruit industry in Sunraysia to boost its international competitiveness and save producers $500,000 a year in production costs.
“The new Export Fruit Disinfestations Treatment Facility will support the ongoing prosperity of Sunraysia’s horticultural industry and enhance the region’s ability to access overseas markets. Currently, local fruit exporters have to transport their produce some 500 kilometres to north-east Victoria for cold treatment before export, which can cause significant costs and delays. There are strict international protocols to meet to ensure access to growing Asian markets, so infrastructure such as this is essential for Sunraysia’s fruit growers and exporters. It also demonstrates Victoria’s commitment to producing clean and green food exports,” said Minister Walsh.
“The new treatment facility will mean growers and exporters can treat fruit locally before export, which is expected to save them about $500,000 per year. It will also create three full-time and three part-time jobs, with more anticipated as the local fruit export market continues to grow.”
The new treatment facility was supported by a Victorian Coalition Government investment of $300,000, as well as by Wakefield Transport and the Mildura Fruit Company.
“The Victorian Coalition Government is investing in this project through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is investing in vital rural and regional projects. Through the Fund the Coalition Government has invested more than $35 million to support 31 projects in Mildura Rural City, leveraging almost $223 million in total investment,” Mr Crisp said.
“This new treatment facility will be complemented by our commitment of up to $220 million to the Murray Basin Rail Project, which will standardise the Mildura to Geelong line and improve transport efficiency and access for farmers sending their produce to our ports for export.”
The Mildura region produces 74% of Australia’s table grapes and 24% of its citrus fruit varieties and is worth around $500 million to the economy.
