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UPDATE, 12:50pm: THE chair of the Rochester advisory group is optimistic for the community’s future, and has emphasised that the town is still open for business.
Campaspe councillor Leigh Wilson said the state government’s $50,000 support for a community economic development plan would foster a focus on fresh opportunities.
“It was a really nice way to start the day,” he said of the funding announcement.
The group has been advocating for the sale of the Murray Goulburn plant, and encouraging any prospective buyers to contact the dairy giant to express their interest.
The site is in the town’s centre.
Cr Wilson believed it would be psychologically damaging for residents to see the building sitting there, empty.
About 70 dairy workers left the Rochester plant, which is in the process of a staged closure, in July.
Approximately 30 workers remain, but will leave before the factory shuts its doors in February.
A Murray Goulburn spokesperson said the immediate focus was assessing which plant and equipment could be transferred to alternative sites to continue or improve production.
“Once this assessment process has been completed, we will be in a position to better consider future options for the site,” the spokesman said.
“Longer term we are not intending to mothball the site and we have been approached by parties interested in the site.”
The spokesperson said maximising value to Murray Goulburn and its stakeholders was a key focus in considering options for the site.
“Any decision is subject to board approval,” they said.
Independent of the manufacturing facility, Murray Goulburn employs about 50 people in Rochester.
The spokesperson said the workers were employed at the inbound logistics depot, trading store and field services team.
UPDATE, 12pm: THE Shire of Campaspe has welcomed a $50,000 funding announcement, which will enable the community to better respond to the closure of Murray Goulburn’s Rochester manufacturing plant.
Mayor Adrian Weston said Wednesday’s funding announcement would support a local advisory group to achieve one of its five key objectives: planning for the community’s economic development.
“With the funding now secured for this exciting project, council will seek expressions of interest from experienced consultants to help the community complete the plan,” he said.
Infrastructure needs, social engagement strategies, education and training, economic and environmental challenges, and a marketing plan will be among the factors to be considered.
Cr Weston said the advisory group would lead the community in its response to the plant’s closure.
The group consists of representatives from schools, businesses, local government, the health and farming sectors, and the broader community.
EARLIER: CAMPASPE Shire will receive $50,000 to help retrenched dairy workers, as Murray Goulburn downsizes.
The Rochester manufacturing plant is one of three that will close – a process that is already underway.
The state government grant will enable both the Campaspe and Indigo shires to undertake community economic development planning – assistance the shires sought to ease the strain of the closures.
Retrenched dairy workers in Rochester and Kiewa, near Wodonga, will also have access to the Rural Skills Connect Program for a further 12 months.
The program helps re-skill and re-train workers to find new jobs.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford said the funds would help the communities manage the economic impacts of the closures and develop investment attraction strategies.
“We know that workers and their families are facing challenging times and we will support these dairy communities right across the supply chain,” she said.
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure these communities have a successful and viable future.”
The Rochester and Kiewa facilities were to lose about 140 workers by mid-August.
Remaining employees at Rochester will leave in stages before the factory closes mid-February.
The Kiewa site will shut its doors in June.
Murray Goulburn’s Edith Creek facility, in Tasmania, will be first to close, ceasing production in November.
About 360 people will lose their jobs across the three sites.
The dairy co-operative expects the closures to deliver an annualised net financial benefit of $40 million to $50 million.