On 18th February 2019, the Northern Grampians Shire Council held a special meeting to consider the Nectar Farms' construction project of a glasshouse. Six councillors out of seven voted in favour of the application. Eventually, the permit was approved for a hydroponic glasshouse vegetable farm with s 5/6 hectare glasshouses at Joel Joel, VIC.
Nectar Farms is an agri‐business dedicated to transforming the current Australian farming model. Founded in 2014 on the belief that successful agri‐business can work hand‐in‐hand with the local community, whilst also safeguarding the environment. As the company itself claimed “Our Mission is to be the leading glasshouse operation in Australia, but we are also committed to bringing employment, training and innovation to regional communities,", and the approval of this new project allows the company to live-up to its task.
“It is a very exciting time for the Northern Grampians Shire, it is the biggest development this shire has seen for many years and is something we can treasure,” Cr Murray Emerson said.
“We have been dealing with it for over four years so to get to this point is great. It has been a gigantic task over a long period of time, with some of the issues we have been working through including Aboriginal heritage, farming zones, traffic management and even a sheep highway.”
It also outlined plans for a nursery, packhouse, utility shed, tank farms, rainwater dams, loading docs and internal road access with upgrade of the Landsborough–Joel Forest Road intersection.
Nectar Farms chief executive Stephen Sasse said the permit approval is a huge achievement.
“When talking with financial partners we are now able to move forward calling it a project rather than an idea,” he said. “We are busily handing over design to constructors to finalise contract prices and costs. If all goes well timing-wise we should be able to start bulk earthworks towards the end of April if we are lucky. Every step forward is a plus.”
Cr Tony Driscoll was mayor when progress of Nectar Farms got moving in the last few years. He said everyone wins from the project.
“The reality is no one else has attempted this in the world, to have a greenhouse totally powered by renewable energy,” he said.
“The community wins, business wins and the environment wins.
“Hundreds of jobs will be created in the building phase and ongoing.”
The facility will produce greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and capsicums, with planting planned to commence from December.
Source: stawelltimes.com.au