Poultry producer Ingham’s Chicken will invest more than $70 million to build a new feed mill near Muchea as part of a plan to grow production volumes in Western Australia.
Poultry producer Ingham’s Chicken will invest more than $70 million to build a new feed mill near Muchea as part of a plan to grow production volumes in Western Australia.
The Sydney-based company has an existing facility in Wanneroo that it plans to relocate as part of the move, with the new Muchea mill to be built by 2020.
Business News understands the new facility will be on Sirona Capital's industrial landholding in the area, about 50 kilometres north of Perth.
A site for a new hatchery, also to be built, is not yet finalised.
Ingham’s Chicken chief commercial officer Quinton Hildebrand said the company would plan to sell the site where the existing feedlot was located.
“Leaseback arrangements will be part of the sale conditions to cover the construction period for our new facilities,” he said.
“Ingham’s looks forward to continuing to work closely with stakeholders to support our continued investment in WA and ensure that our operations in Wanneroo have minimum impact on the community for our remaining period there.
“We are pleased to be able to continue to invest in the sustainable growth of our company, and in doing so create jobs and opportunities in WA.”
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the move was an example of serious interest in the state’s agribusiness industry.
"(The opposition) started discussions with Ingham's last year and committed to facilitating this relocation and expansion - now we have fulfilled that commitment,” she said.
"Growing exports is important, but there are real opportunities in expanding our agriculture sector to meet increasing local demand.
"We can ensure the best quality products end up on Western Australian plates and, at the same time, reduce our reliance on imports from the eastern states.”
Ingham's is not the only agribusiness investing in WA.
The Geraldton Fisherman's Co-operative scored a $3.5 million loan from the state government to build an 80 tonne live lobster holding facility in Welshpool, while CBH Group is building a 60,000 tonne per year oats processing facility in Forrestfield.
Ocean Grown Abalone is another growing business, raising capital to double production at its aquaculture farm in the Southwest.
