Cannery to take on imported produce

by BRIAN BENNION

AN AMBITIOUS decade-long plan to build a cannery in the Lockyer Valley to resurrect the beetroot industry is finally coming to fruition.

Lockyer Valley Fruit and Vegetable Food Processing Company launches its multi-million dollar project at Withcott on Friday.

CEO Colin Dorber said the company had taken a 40 year lease on a 52ha site at Withcott with an option to buy and was ready to lodge a development application in January.

He said they hoped to start ground works by late March.

The construction cost of stage one is $15 million and the fit-out is $60 million.

Stage 1 of the project would include a frozen line, vacuum packed and a small volume of fresh and is hoped to include a small powdered plant. Stage 2 would include the cannery.

The Lockyer Valley Fruit and Vegetable Food Processing Company board has six directors including former Ipswich City Councillor Cheryl Bromage.