A PROPOSED major development for the South East may not go ahead with Victoria securing funds from the Federal Government to proceed with an identical project.
The $34.7m hydroponic strawberry plant for the region is in doubt with plans now in place for Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.
Berry Sensation secured a $2m South Australian Government grant in November and estimated the Wattle Range Council area plant would require an 80-strong construction workforce and thereafter secure 138 ongoing jobs.
However, the Federal Government has now announced the Latrobe Valley site would cost $37m, also require 80 workers during the building phase and generate 122 full-time ongoing positions.
Personnel from Berry Sensation – which is part of the Mecus Group – have stated the relative merits of the two projects were being assessed but only one would be built in the foreseeable future.
Mecrus Group managing director Barry Richards said the South Australian and Victorian sites both had suitable climates.
Mr Richards said factors like water and workforce availability would come into his company’s calculations.
He said the two grant allocations should not be regarded as a “bidding war” and a decision about the preferred site would be made by the end of May.
“It will be an economic decision,” Mr Richards said.
He said his company had investigated a number of sites in the southern regions of Australia and he was full of praise for the advocacy roles played by Invest SA and Wattle Range Council.
“We set about creating an attractive project and the South Australian
