Hundreds of jobs on horizon for Mt Barker Agribusiness hub

The State Government has backed an ambitious vision for an agribusiness hub near Mt Barker which could create hundreds of jobs. Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced $300,000 of funding last week to support preliminary planning for creating the value-adding “agribusiness precinct”, about 6km south of Mt Barker off Yerriminup Road. Shire of Plantagenet chief executive Rob Stewart said the 193ha site had the potential to create hundreds of jobs and could be only a few years away from having its first tenant set up shop. A vision for a business hub supporting the region’s agricultural economic backbone stretches back 25 years to when the land was rezoned for industrial use. Since then, the Shire has been engaged in “many meetings with politicians” and “high level” discussions with government agencies, but last week’s announcement was among the most exciting developments to date, Mr Stewart said. Last week the McGowan Government said any potential future hub would “leverage off the internationally competitive agricultural base of the Great Southern”. Because the hub is 193ha and has a buffer zone in place, Mr Stewart said the sky was the limit in terms of the number of businesses that could be established, but attracting the first tenant would be a challenging step. The Shire was in talks with a Plantagenet chicken processor currently at capacity, which could lead it to being a founding business at the hub. “The council here is very adamant we need to protect our agricultural backbone,” Mr Stewart said. “Any business that’s already here (in the Great Southern) and wants to expand their business, we definitely want to talk with those people.” In her announcement, Ms MacTiernan said the Great Southern was home to some of WA’s best produce. “The Mt Barker AgriBusiness Precinct has the potential to leverage off this strength and create downstream processing and value-adding businesses with significant job opportunities,” she said. “A fully developed precinct will support new businesses, creating jobs and contributing positively to the local and regional economy. “Initial work will include feasibility investigations and completing an approved sub-division plan and costed detailed design.” The Milne Agrigroup, which owns the Mt Barker Chicken and Plantagenet Pork brands, was contacted for comment.