Prime Minister Tony Abbott has officially opened a new $80 million milk processing factory in Wyndham.
Mr Abbott joined Victorian Premier Denis Napthine last week to open the Devondale Murray Goulburn milk processing and bottling plant on a site in Laverton North that was previously a paddock.
The PM said the plant would create 50 long-term jobs in the area and was capable of processing 50,000 litres of milk per hour and 150 million litres every year.
It will play a critical role in a new 10-year agreement between Devondale and Coles where the milk company will supply more than 400 supermarkets with products.
“This is a great antidote to any pessimism we might be tempted to feel about dairy or the manufacturing industry and about the ability of Australian companies to work together to give Australians the best possible deal,” Mr Abbott said.
“Coles cops a bit of flak … but it was [to their] great credit that they were prepared to offer Murray Goulburn this 10-year contract.”
Dr Napthine said the $80 million investment from Devondale in building the plant showed that Melbourne’s west was important to Victoria’s future.
Both Mr Abbott and Dr Napthine used the chance to spruik the East West Link which they said would serve trucks to and from the Devondale plant.
Devondale Murray Goulburn managing director Gary Helou said the facility was the first of its kind in Australia.
He said it would be the most technologically advanced and the fastest processing and bottling plant in the country.
Xavier Smerdon
