Midfield expansion too important to not go ahead

At a time when job security in the region is under pressure it would have been a travesty if the recommendations of an independent planning panel into the proposal were ignored.

There was no guarantee that the Warrnambool City Council would endorse the panel’s recommendation that the $70 million plan for milk processing and cold storage plants adjacent to Midfield’s abattoir so planning minister Richard Wynne had to step in. It was an appropriate use of his ministerial power.

Interestingly, similar plans by Midfield for expansion into Penola in South Australia were fast-tracked at breathtaking speed by a state government also desperate for growth and investment of the scale that can be provided by the Midfield operation for regional communities.

We can thank federal MP Dan Tehan, newly-minted state MP for Western Victoria James Purcell, South-West Coast MP Denis Napthine and regional development minister Jaala Pulford for yesterday’s decision. All of them lobbied hard behind the scenes on behalf of Midfield.

While a small and ill-informed minority might persist in the belief that something untoward has occurred after last year’s absurd allegations of inappropriate links between then premier Denis Napthine and Midfield boss Colin McKenna, it is simply not the case.

Midfield played this by the book and has been rewarded for its forward-thinking, courage and innovation by all sides of government.

Boss Colin McKenna says he expects the project to generate up to 250 jobs, a welcome boost to the local economy. We must also keep in mind that this decision has been made at a time when, broadly speaking, the south-west has once again received little in the state budget.

Because of our safe-seat status, we have to fight for everything we get down here. This particular fight has been won for the forces of commonsense and the region should be celebrating.