A NEW $120 million dairy factory has been given the green light in Camperdown.
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Corangamite Shire signed off on the project after no objections were received to the development on the old Bonlac site in Manifold Street.
Camperdown Dairy International, which is behind the project, is a new player in the dairy sector and plans to target export powdered milk markets, including infant formula, with an initial throughput of 100 million litres of milk annually.
The company is backed by agricultural investment management company, the Eat Group, and mining services company MCG Group.
The factory will be part of a paddock-to-plate business model in which the company will own farms that supply the factory as well as the distribution chain. The company is believed to have already bought some farms in the region.
The factory site is already home to unrelated Camperdown Dairy Company, which produces fresh milk, butter and yoghurt in one of the old factory buildings.
Corangamite Shire mayor Chris O’Connor welcomed the investment which is expected to create between 30 and 50 new jobs.
“The new development is a further vote of confidence in the region and will enhance Corangamite Shire’s reputation as one of the premier areas for dairy production in the country.
“I look forward to works commencing at the site in the coming months.”
Old plant at the property will be replaced with new milk processing equipment but the company plans to retain some of the key historical features.
The existing drying tower will be demolished as well as the brick chimney.
The heritage-listed former factory manager’s residence will be relocated to a new location within the site and the original facade of the former cheese and butter factory will be restored.
Camperdown Dairy International CEO Phil McFarlane said approval for the project was a major achievement.