A large tomato growing operation at Two Wells will receive $500,000 from the State Government’s Regional Development Infrastructure Fund (RDIF) to increase its production capacity.
Regional Development Minister Paul Caica says Como Glasshouse Pty Ltd is ready to undertake Stage 2 of an expansion plan for its hydroponic glasshouse at Two Wells - from 8.2 hectares to 16.4 hectares - at a cost of $25 million.
“This will result in a doubling of production, from 4,500 tonnes of tomatoes annually to 9,000 tonnes.
“The RDIF grant will assist with the cost of electricity and water infrastructure, providing an increase in generational capacity of 1,850 kW and doubling its reverse osmosis plant and on-site water storage capacities to allow for increased irrigation needs,” Minister Caica says.
“Doubling production volumes will also have a positive net benefit effect on trade balance, by combating imports from interstate and New Zealand.”
Mr Caica says Como Glasshouse provides over 100 direct full-time equivalent jobs in packaging, crop tendering, administration and marketing. Stage 2 will result in an additional 85 employees.
The expansion is expected to be operational by early 2011.
The Regional Development Infrastructure Fund plays an important role in the implementation of the South Australian Strategic Plan, by helping to meet a number of South Australia’s Strategic Plan targets for regional jobs, investment and export earnings.
The Como Glasshouse project is one of five chosen for assistance in the State Government’s latest round of Regional Development Infrastructure Fund grants totalling almost $845,000. The others are:
• $114,776 to a “showcase” greenhouse under construction south of Port Augusta that will boost local horticultural production. Seawater Greenhouse (Australia) is using a highly innovative desalination method to provide water for the greenhouse, at Port Patterson.
• $70,000 to BTG Australasia for the provision of high-speed broadband to the Turretfield Research Centre at Rosedale in the Barossa Valley. The Centre produces antibody medicines for export and a 10Mb/s broadband fibre optic connection is necessary to operate effectively and successfully.
• $86,945 to Big River Feeds to assist with the cost of supplying a 3-phase mains electricity connection to the new feed mill complex near Murray Bridge. The mill will produce high quality, low cost pelletised stockfeed to its shareholders’ integrated pork production systems.
• $73,250 to Lyndoch Hill Retreat in the Barossa Valley for a waste water treatment facility for on site black and grey water. The facility will make 3.7 million litres of water per year available for horticulture, maintain and improve its large rose garden, and assist the business to reduce its consumption of mains water.
Since coming to power in March 2002, the Rann Government has committed over $23 million to regional infrastructure projects. This has generated an estimated 3,300 new jobs with a total project investment of more than $907 million.
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