$320m farm jobs’ fast-track to delivery

A FUTURISTIC $320 million farm promising 1000 jobs for Geelong is on a fast-track to reality, according to its proponent.
Sustainable Farms welcomed a council decision this week to hand responsibility for the proposal to Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
Spokesperson Barry Dungey said it could now be classified a “project of state significance” with faster planning approvals.
Sunstainable Farms hoped to have a “planning outcome” by April, Mr Dungey said.
“Councillors and mayor Darryn Lyons have recognised the importance of this $320 million waste-to-energy enterprise to the Geelong region and have worked with a collaborative and constructive approach to getting it off the ground.
“We are delighted with (the) decision to move swiftly to maximise the potential benefits of the Sustainable Farms development flowing through to the local economy as quickly as possible.
“Sustainable Farms is an Australian-first but first and foremost it’s a regionally significant project for Geelong that is planned to create over 1000 jobs and generate $160 million each year for the local economy once the project reaches full scale.
“We now look forward to working with Minister Guy and the State Government and we will continue to collaborate with council and engage and inform the local community regarding developments for the proposed project.”
The Independent revealed the proposal at the start of the month.
The farm would process timber waste to power 60 hectares of hydroponic vegetable production on a 371Ha site at Avalon.
Sustainable Farms said the project, near Avalon Airport, had “significant export potential”.
Stage one of the six-stage project is scheduled for completion in 2016. The rest of the farm should be complete in 2021.