A $19.4 MILLION expansion of Devondale Murray Goulburn’s dairy processing factory at Koroit has been welcomed by the workforce union, which hopes more full-time jobs will be created.
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The company will build a high-tech extension at the Commercial Road factory in the next 18 months to make infant nutrition products for expanding international markets.
Cobram, in northern Victoria, and Edith Creek, in Tasmania, will also get major factory expansions as part of a $127 million investment by the company.
National Union of Workers organiser Darren Styles said yesterday the investment announcement came on top of Fonterra’s plan to spend $30m on its Cobden factory and create 30 jobs.
“We are happy with any expansions in the dairy processing industry,” Mr Styles said.
“Our hope is to see that translated into more full-time jobs, not a continuation of casualisation of the workforce.
“Casualisation does not provide a career pathway.”
About 70 workers are employed at the Koroit factory and the union is negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement for its members to update the existing deal, which expires on June 30.
Koroit is the company’s largest milk processing site, handling about a billion litres a year and generating about $750m a year.
