It's hoped the $15 million expansion of a Howlong industrial estate will have positive economic and community impacts on the town.
The Howlong Industrial and Export Precinct was officially opened yesterday, allowing for a new 16 lot industrial subdivision and expansion of the Staughton Group's CoolOff facility.
Cool-Off Pty Ltd is Australia's premier producer of pet food, processing over 250 tonnes of raw material per day to supply Australian and international markets.
Managing director Edward Staughton said the development would create economic opportunities for the region.
"This was a really critical project, there is no other industrial land in Howlong, so the creation of these blocks will create opportunities for more businesses to build within the community," he said.
"A big part of it will be the total community population growth that will come on the back of this economic activity.
"In the last three months, for instance, there's been 60 people that have joined our business that have moved into Howlong and Rutherglen.
"They'll bring their families and that will benefit the school, it'll benefit the sporting teams, which will benefit the whole eco-climate, so I think it's going to be great for Federation Council."
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The project was jointly funded by the Building Better Regions Fund ($6.759 million), the Staughton Group's CoolOff ($6.589 million) and Federation Council ($1.999 million), for a total cost of more than $15 million.
Mr Staughton said he expected engineering and carpentry business would move into the new lots and the precinct's was well located for businesses.
"It's a half hour commute into Albury so it's local enough to tap into those sort of markets that all have good infrastructure support, good road access, and power, gas and services," he said.
It's a great central hub for supply of our products.
"The inland rail is a really exciting opportunity that will give us cost effective access to the ports for a cost effective delivery from a global perspective and access to a regional Australia.
"But again it's been a good relationship with council, it's a good hub and access to the Albury-Wodonga community and workforce."
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Victoria Ellis
Victoria Ellis grew up on the Border and loves reporting for her home community. She is a University of Wollongong Journalism graduate. In 2018 Victoria was awarded the Bruce Gordon Scholarship for Journalism and completed a 10 week internship with WIN News Illawarra. In 2019 she was awarded The Border Mail's Cameron Thompson Scholarship, where she completed a three week internship, before taking up ongoing employment in 2021.
Victoria Ellis grew up on the Border and loves reporting for her home community. She is a University of Wollongong Journalism graduate. In 2018 Victoria was awarded the Bruce Gordon Scholarship for Journalism and completed a 10 week internship with WIN News Illawarra. In 2019 she was awarded The Border Mail's Cameron Thompson Scholarship, where she completed a three week internship, before taking up ongoing employment in 2021.
