The Victorian state government has supported Australian Consolidated Milk (ACM) – one of Australia’s fastest growing dairy companies – to hire more workers and expand its operations in Girgarre.
ACM has exceeded its forecast jobs growth, hiring 65 new workers since expanding its site, which was supported by the Regional Jobs Fund.
“We’re proud of our investment in ACM’s operations in Girgarre which has provided a much-needed boost to the dairy industry, created more local jobs and increased local manufacturing,” minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said.
ACM has almost doubled its annual capacity since the new facility was completed just over two years ago and now processes 200 million litres of milk a year at its Girgarre manufacturing facility. The company had expected to hire 50 workers at the new plant but has now added 65 staff.
The company has also expanded its product range, which includes milk powders, cheese, butter and cream products across conventional and organic milk. All product categories have been recognised with awards from the Dairy Industry Association of Australia over the last two years.
“ACM Girgarre has not only grown its workforce but also its product range, creating more milk products to supply local and international markets – a big win for this small town,” member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said.
The company manages 500 million litres of milk a year and supplies dairy ingredients to both domestic and export markets. ACM services around 300 dairy farmers, which is almost 10 per cent of Victoria’s dairy farm businesses.
The ongoing roles based at Girgarre are on top of more than 100 construction-related jobs created during the three years the facility was being built.
The Regional Jobs Fund is part of the Government’s flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, which helps businesses create more jobs in regional Victoria, supports community projects and helps councils to build the infrastructure locals need.
Information about the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund is available at rdv.vic.gov.au/rjif.