A MAJOR $7m upgrade to OneFortyOne’s Glencoe nursery will produce an additional four million seedlings annually and streamline the growing process.
The significant investment will introduce state-of-the-art technology to the site from July, including an improved irrigation system to deliver efficiencies in irrigation, fertigation, and pest control.
On-site working conditions will also be improved with new shedding to house all operations, except for the growing phase, while a new automatic vacuum seeding will allow trays to be filled, seed sown and covered in one pass.
OneFortyOne Nursery manager Craig Torney said planning for the upgrade started four years ago, aiming to improve the site’s sustainability and workforce well-being.
“By introducing technology to assist and streamline the process, the upgrade will increase container growing capacity three-fold with the potential to grow an additional four million container seedlings per year,” Mr Torney said.
“Instead of needing to bend or crouch down to work at ground level, we’ll have a process where trees will be grown in trays at a bench set to a more ergonomic height,” he said.
“The move away from field growing into bench supported containers will improve our working conditions, site safety and sustainability, and ultimately result in a better end product for forest growers and local timber processing customers across the region.
“The investment is a sign of OneFortyOne’s confidence in the future of the industry and our commitment to remaining part of our local community.”
The upgrade moves almost all winter production under cover and includes improved facilities such as new amenities and lunchroom, as well as internal road upgrades and nursery beautification.
Works will start in July with the project due to be completed in 2023.
The Glencoe Nursery has been in operation since 1982 and supplies over 10 million trees for OneFortyOne and other forest growers in the region.
