Progress to commencing construction of glasshouse project Nectar Farms is one step closer after having a planning permit approved.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Northern Grampians Shire Council held a special meeting on Monday afternoon to consider the projects planning permit application.
Cr Jason Hosemans was an apology for the meeting but the other six councillors voted in favour of the application.
"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.
Related: Nectar Farms masterplan revealed
"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."
The permit was approved for a hydroponic glasshouse vegetable farm with six, five hectare glasshouses at Joel Joel.
It also outlined plans for a nursery, packhouse, utility shed, tank farms, rainwater dams, loading docs and internal road access with upgrade of the LandsboroughJoel Forest Road intersection.
Nectar Farms chief executive Stephen Sasse said the permit approval is a big milestone.
"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."
Crs Karen Hyslop, Kevin Erwin and Merrilee Reid also expressed their excitement about the project going ahead, thanking staff at the shire for their work.
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. It is a gamechanger for the Northern Grampians Shire and the region."
The facility will produce greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and capsicums, with planting planned to commence from December.
While youre with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from the Stawell Times-News. To make sure youre up-to-date with all the news from across the Northern Grampians shire, sign up here.
