A major milestone was reached this week for Western Australian food growers, producers and manufacturers, with ground broken on the state's first food innovation precinct on Thursday.
The $21.7million precinct, located at the Peel Business Park in Nambeelup, is intended to enable commercial research and development, prototype and market testing of food and beverage products, and networking for WA food producers.
Grants will be available to businesses to access the WA Food Innovation Precinct (WAFIP), allowing them to invest with confidence in new large-scale commercial production lines.
According to Shire of Murray president David Bolt, the state-of-the-art facility was designed to inspire Western Australian growers and producers, to build a robust and vibrant food and beverage manufacturing sector.
"The Australian food and beverage sector is a major economic contributor, generating close to $30 billion in export value and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs," he said.
"Building upon this base is vital for Australia's future sustainability and security and provides a growing opportunity to support Murray and other regional communities and expand our economies.
"Western Australia however, trails behind other states in the total value of agricultural produce transformed into manufactured products for overseas markets.
"The precinct will therefore focus on growing the state's capacity to manufacture more of its food product locally. It will also assist in building international demand for local brands among consumers willing to pay for quality, premium WA products."
Economic modelling indicates that the precinct could increase WA's food and beverage sector output between one and three per cent in the first five years of operation
- David Bolt
The WAFIP will comprise of a research and development facility, production building and innovation centre which will house agri-food research and development experts, innovative start-ups, business services related to trade and markets and a common-use food technology facility.
"Economic modelling indicates that the precinct could increase WA's food and beverage sector output between one and three per cent in the first five years of operation," Mr Bolt said.
"This equates to between 17 and 51 new food businesses delivering benefits to the state's economy."
WAFIP is set to be complete by June 2022. The total project cost is expected to be $52.6 million.
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Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said the facility would create more jobs for the Peel region.
"The WAFIP will become another major job-creator in the Peel region, supercharging value-adding opportunities that create long-term jobs for local people," she said.
"Our region produces some of the best-quality food in the world and this facility will allow our local businesses to take their products to the next level."
New job-creating opportunities are also set to be available for Stage Two at the Peel Business Park.
Businesses in the Peel region are being offered the opportunity to set their own footprint at Peel Business Park with expressions of interest now being sought.
DevelopmentWA is now engaging with industry on Stage Two, with businesses quick to register their interest able to tailor a lot to suit individual requirements.
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Lands minister Tony Buti said the Peel Business Park is going to be the powerhouse of the Peel region for economic growth and jobs.
"The Business Park is a game-changer for WA agri-innovation, industry, transport and logistics, and it's a great example of the work the Industrial Lands Authority does in supplying strategically-located industrial land to support WA's economic prosperity," he said.
Expressions of interest close on June 30, 2021. For more information, or to register interest, visit https://www.developmentwa.com.au/peel
Further information about WAFIP and grants can be viewed on the shire's website murray.wa.gov.au/wafip or by emailing wafip@murray.wa.gov.au
