Hay plant moves to Wagin
A Perth-based hay processing facility will build in Wagin after its controversial application in Williams was withdrawn last year.
Multinational Gilmac Holdings submitted an offer to buy a lot on Playle Road, Williams in May last year for hay storage, but by November, the plant had still not been approved pending noise, dust and vehicle impact surveys.
That month Gilmac took its application for the $2.3 million facility to the Shire of Wagin, where it was approved at the December council meeting.
The plant will source hay from local farms and repack it before exporting it to overseas markets.
Gilmac managing director Munro Patchett said there was a large existing client base in the Great Southern region.
“We have growers in Williams, Wagin and out to Pingrup making contact wanting to grow hay for us and we have bought hay in that area,” he said.
“We expect we will recruit new growers because hay is a great crop.”
Lots 676 and 677 on Wagin-Dumbleyung Road will house the storage facility and, according to the December 16 council minutes, the plant will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week with an annual output of 50,000 megatonnes, or 2000 40-foot containers.
About 20 b-doubles, flat beds, semi-trailers and road trains will deliver for 10 months of the year, mainly via Great Southern Highway and Arthur Road West.
Wagin councillors have set in place stringent conditions related to future planning processes and noise.
Mr Patchett said there was no date set for construction to start, but he aimed to have the facility running later in the year.
“We intend to have the plant up and running in October,” he said.
“The plant will create 15 full-time jobs and five casuals at various times of the year and we will be looking to employ predominantly local people,” he said.
CAPTION: Picture: Tim Slater
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