The Manning Valley economy will receive a significant boost with the announcement today of federal funding support for five projects that will create 206 jobs.
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Announcing the successful projects under the first round of the Coalition’s North Coast Jobs and Investment package, member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said nearly $7 million in new projects would now proceed throughout the Manning Valley.
“Industry and manufacturing have been an important part of the region’s economy in decades gone by, but now a new wave of industry development is on the way and I’m delighted our government is helping to facilitate that,” he said.
Funding of $500,000 will be made available to assist with the development of a new $4 million Transport Terminal at Cundletown to be built and operated by Jim Pearson Transport, generating 110 jobs. “This is a particularly important project in that it will not only be one of the company’s largest operations, it will be an important anchor in MidCoast Council’s overall plan to develop Taree’s northern gateway,” Dr Gillespie said.
“While this project in itself is significant and will have many economic spin-offs, I’m hopeful it will be the catalyst for more development in the area.”
Taree’s Bamboo Engineering Products at Logan Leigh Benchtops is set for a major expansion to allow the company to create greater capacity and meet growing demand for their bamboo products.
The project is costed at $1.01 million and will receive $500,000 in federal funding.
“Around 40 jobs will be created throughout the construction phase of this project,” said Dr Gillespie.
“Initially an extra 25 new jobs will be created with the expansion, and this could rise with the growth generated by increased capacity of the company’s operations.”
Taree’s Stebercraft has been successful in its application seeking support for its Fibreglass Reinforced Plastics and Engineering upgrade. It will receive $150,075 for the $300,150 project.
“Again this project will not only create a number of new jobs and maintain existing jobs, but also provide the manufacturer the capacity to take advantage of new market opportunities which will create many more jobs,” Dr Gillespie said.
“As part of today’s announcement, an expansion of Valley Industries’ Linen Service will get underway to improve their capability and capacity to meet growing demand, generating 15 jobs.”
The $333,166 project will receive $166,583 in federal funding.
“Croker Oars at Oxley Island will undertake a $1.3 million upgrade of its operations to make them more efficient.
“This project will create a number of skilled employment opportunities and provide new up-skilling opportunities for the existing workforce.”
The project will receive $663,000 in federal funding.
Dr Gillespie said submissions to the North Coast Jobs and Investment package initiative had been highly competitive and he was hopeful a further round of funding would be made available to support further projects in the future.
“This is a great initiative that is helping to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs in the Manning, and I’m so pleased our region has done so well in this first round of projects,” he added.
“We have already been investing in a number of key initiatives designed to generate more jobs in the region and this is another important layer in this process.
“Our record investment in aged care locally, the expansion of funding into infrastructure, roads and bridge projects and the tax cuts and employment assistance measures for small businesses are all important to the work we are doing at the Federal level to get our region’s economy moving,” said Dr Gillespie.
Breakdown of funding and expected outcomes
Project 1
Jim Pearson Transport Cundletown – 110 jobs
Project Name: Jim Pearson Taree Transport Terminal
Project Cost: $4-million (Federal Funding - $500,000)
Construction of the national transport operator’s fifth major transport terminal will complement the three segment driver change over on our Sydney to Brisbane transport operation. It will also form the major anchor of the Taree Northern Gateway Employment Precinct which also proposes a new highway service centre, accommodation and other industry. Fifty jobs will created throughout the construction phase and a further sixty ongoing jobs at the new Taree Terminal.
Project 2
Bamboo Engineering Products Taree – 65 jobs
Project Name: Bamboo Building Products Manufacturing Facility
Project Cost: $1.01-million (Federal Funding - $500,000)
The project will help the local manufacturer reach Australia-wide markets with eco sustainable bamboo timber products through the development of a new site and the upgrade of its existing factory fit out and equipment. The project will create 40 jobs in the construction phase and a further twenty-five new jobs in the manufacturing industry in Taree.
Project 3
Stebercraft – 8 jobs
Project: Fibreglass Reinforced Plastics & Engineering upgrade
Project Cost: $300,150 (Federal Funding - $150,075)
The planned upgrade will allow production of stainless steel and aluminium components that are currently outsourced from the metropolitan area. At completion of the project an additional five staff will be employed along with immediate staff requirements to complete the upgrade, increased productivity and competitive product. The project will generate three jobs during construction and include modification of the existing factory, production cradle, deck tooling, additional equipment and a manufacturing software upgrade; which will allow Stebercraft to be to increased productivity, increase turnover, create new and sustainable employment, remain competitive and allow future expansion into new markets. Three jobs will created throughout the construction phase and a further six ongoing jobs at the Taree Manufacturing facility.
Project 4
Valley Industries Taree – 15 jobs
Project: Valley Linen Service Capacity Improvements
Project Cost: $333,166 (Federal Funding - $166,583)
The project will address capacity constraints in the Valley Linen Service through the installation of additional machinery and power generation capacity. The additional capacity will enable Valley Linen Service to offer improved laundry services to additional customers in the Visitor Economy and will provide additional employment of four construction jobs and 11 ongoing jobs.
Project 5
Croker Oars Oxley Island - 8 jobs
Project: Upgrade of Manufacturing Facility
Project Cost: $1,326,000 (Federal Funding - $663,000)
This project will create an advanced composite manufacturing facility using new automation equipment and tooling, and implementing energy efficient and waste reduction initiatives. It will keep talent in our region with skilled job offerings in a new world-class manufacturing facility initially with three additional jobs. This project will generate five jobs throughout the construction phase and a new manufacturing facility that will allow the business to compete on the international market sustainably into the future.