A $60 million precast concrete factory will provide Benalla’s biggest jobs boost since the opening of the ADI munitions plant in 1996, according to the city’s mayor.
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Don Firth said the plant, which will employ 230 and initially supply precast concrete for Melbourne’s West Gate tunnel through a purpose-built rail siding would be massive for the city.
“This is a huge project, they’re talking up to 15,000 tonnes a day of concrete,” Cr Firth said.
“It’s a fantastic project and we’re very happy to have it land on our juncture and I use the word juncture, because of the siding.
“That is going to be as important as the plant in some ways – it means there will be a legacy to this whole project.”
The factory on the north side of Benalla will be on a block bounding Murray Road and the Benalla-Yarrawonga Road with construction due to start next month.
Cr Firth said the availability of high-grade rock for quarrying, access to a train line and available industrial land were the keys to Benalla securing the factory.
An estimated 400 jobs overall are expected to be created in Benalla through the project which is being driven as part of a joint venture involving construction giant John Holland.
“The West Gate tunnel is the first big project it will be supplying, but it will be ongoing so it can supply precast concrete from anywhere between Perth and Brisbane,” Cr Firth said.
The 700-metre railway siding should drive a freight hub and related investment, he added.
Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan this week travelled to Benalla to spruik the factory.
“This will be the largest precast facility in Victoria, creating hundreds of new jobs and providing a massive boost to Victoria’s manufacturing sector,” Mr Donnellan said.
Labor member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the factory should attract workers from Wangaratta as well as Benalla.
It is slated for opening in October with the West Gate tunnel expected to be open to traffic in 2022.
The 1.5-kilometre six-lane tunnel will take vehicles from Yarraville to the Maribyrnong River.
It will be ongoing so it can supply precast concrete from anywhere between Perth and Brisbane
- Benalla mayor Don Firth on the city's new factory