Phillip Island will gain a new microbrewery and distillery with a 120-seat bar and restaurant, thanks to a $1.2 million investment from the Victorian government. Read more
Chocolate factory expansion sweetens island attraction
A popular tourist attraction and chocolate manufacturer on Philip Island has received support from the Victorian state government to expand its facilities, create more local jobs and boost tourism. Read more
Fast growing dairy producer expands operations
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. Read more
Milking Victoria’s dairy export potential with grant for Purearth Foods
The Victorian state government is supporting local food producer, Purearth Foods, to make new products, boost sales in international markets and respond to supply chain risks. Read more
Click-and-collect RATs available for food supply chain businesses
Food supply chain businesses can now click-and-collect rapid antigen tests at two Bunnings stores, as part of a new pilot program in Victoria. Read more
Australian fruit grower progresses on new packing factory in Victoria
Geoffrey Thompson Holdings, one of Australia’s largest apple and pear growers, has encountered major progress on the construction of its new export-standard fruit packing factory in Mooroopna, Victoria. Read more
Blackman’s Brewery doubles production with new Grovedale site
Blackman’s Brewery in Victoria, a wholesale beer producer, has opened a new and larger site in Grovedale to double its production capacity and meet COVIDSafe standards. Read more
Goulburn Valley food bowl grows with three new projects
Three new agriculture and manufacturing projects in the Goulburn Valley food bowl are being undertaken with the help of the Victorian government’s Regional Jobs Fund, that will create almost 150 new jobs. Read more
Dairy Transition project supports dairy farm innovation
Dairy Australia have collaborated with the Victorian government to create the Dairy Transition project, to support dairy farmers in adopting new practices and technologies and help improve the resilience, sustainability and efficiency of their businesses. Read more
Village Dairy expands export sales through new funding
Village Dairy, a growing dairy manufacturer in Gippsland, Victoria, is being supported by the state government to expand its export sales via the new equipment needed to supply increasing demand from Asian markets in the coming year. Read more
New guide helps businesses reduce and recycle food waste
A new guide released by the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG), a Victorian government statutory body, is aiming to help food businesses reduce costs by avoiding or recycling more of the 237,000 tonnes of food waste currently going to landfill. Read more
Victorian agribusinesses go global in China, Malaysia and the UAE
Three agriculture export specialists have been appointed by the Victorian government to help agribusinesses establish more global trade pathways. Read more
Bringing Victoria’s locally grown and processed Food to Market
Under the first tranche of the new Food to Market program, 13 key industry and regional peak bodies will receive grants for projects that add value to food grown and processed in Victoria. Read more
Victoria prioritises food relief for multicultural communities in need
The Victorian government has announced they will provide 99 organisations with $1.4 million to continue delivering immediate food relief services to multicultural communities, as the state remains at home. Read more
Melbourne Food And Wine Festival to open for new Winter Edition
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival has unveiled its first Winter Edition, open for 10 days and nights between August 20 and 29. Read more
Morwell Food Precinct boosts manufacturing in Latrobe Valley
The Victorian government is investing in Latrobe Valley jobs and supporting Gippsland’s food and fibre sector with major funding to accelerate plans for a new food manufacturing hub, Morwell Food Manufacturing Precinct. Read more
Victoria invests in traceability systems, supports agriculture sector
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas has announced $11.7 million will be invested to modernise agriculture traceability systems, supporting jobs in the sector and demand for quality food and fibre. Read more
Native fish report card improves information on Victorian fish
Victorians will get a better insight into the health of the state’s waterways and native fish numbers following the launch of the native fish report card.
Victoria’s minister for water Lisa Neville said the report card will give the community and anglers important information about the state of Victorian fish.
“Through Water for Victoria, we’re improving information about our waterways and catchments, and better reporting back to communities,” said Neville.
By monitoring fish populations in Victoria’s 10 priority rivers, the report card will tell anglers and conservationists about the health of key Victorian fish species.
READ: SafeFish gets $855,000 to help Australia’s seafood sector grow
The priority rivers are Gellibrand river, Glenelg river, Goulburn river, Gunbower, Lindsay and Mullaroo, Mitchell river, Ovens river, Thomson and Macalister, Wimmera river and Yarra river.
Fishers, citizen scientists and community members alike can access information about recreational and threatened non-recreational fish species through a web-portal that will be updated with new fish population data every year.
Over the next three years this website will provide information on the condition of native fish.
As data is strengthened throughout the years, it will help discover trends in fish populations.
Minister for agriculture Jaala Pulford said the government wants Victorians fishing more often, which is why it’s investing in the native fish report card to provide the community information on what they can expect to catch.
“We can’t wait to see the benefits of our record native fish stocking and continued investment in snags for fish reflected in future report card results,” said Pulford.
Funding for this program comes from the Victorian government’s $222 million investment into waterway and catchment health, recreational fishing licence fees and Target One Million, which is investing $46m to get more people fishing.
The program is run by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Victorian Fisheries Authority.
Sheep and goat traceability requirements increased
Sheep and goat traceability standards are being boosted with scanning infrastructure and software installed in all sheep selling saleyards and processing plants in Victoria.
The Victorian government is increasing traceability standards to protect Victoria’s $6.7 billion livestock industry.
Performance levels for Victorian sheep and goat saleyards and processing facilities will be increased from 80 to 90 per cent from early 2019.
Sheep and Goats Identification Advisory Committee chairman Stuart McLean said the government set an achievable goal.
READ: Sheep counting app counts and records farmers’ stock numbers
“Increasing action levels for saleyards and processors on the 31st of March 2019, will be very attainable by the industry, particularly with six months to prepare and plan for these changes,” said McLean.
Levels were originally set at 80 per cent to facilitate a smooth transition for industry to the new electronic National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats.
Victorian minister for agriculture Jaala Pulford said the industry had embraced the transition to electronic identification and was exceeding current action and performance levels.
“Most saleyards and abattoirs are already reading close to 100 per cent of the electronic NLIS tags on sheep and goats, so the impact of raising these levels is expected to be minimal,” she said.
“Victoria is leading the way with this critical reform and our sheep and goat industries should be commended for the way in which they have embraced the change and made a successful transition to the electronic system,” said Pulford.
The phased implementation of electronic identification, supported by the Sheep and Goat Identification Advisory Committee, has allowed saleyards, agents and processors to adapt without major disruption to established practices.
Victoria is the first state in Australia to introduce mandatory electronic identification for sheep and goats, which will provide trading partners with increased confidence in the safety and origin of Victorian products – protecting and enhancing access to expanding and profitable local and export markets.
Funding boost helps create more than 170 new jobs in Victoria
Greenham’s Moe facility is expanding its meat processing facility, increasing its production capacity and boosting its export revenue.
With a funding boost from the Victorian government, the company will be able to expand as well as create 170 new jobs.
The project includes upgrading existing processing systems, extending the boning room chains and floor space, and purchasing new chiller and latest technology freezing equipment and new packaging and conveyor systems.
Greenham Gippsland Pty Ltd is a sixth-generation meat processing business which sources livestock from over 4,000 suppliers across Australia.
READ: Funding boost for Victorian recycling sector
The company supplies premium beef products for both domestic and international markets under brands which include Cape Grim, Pure Black Natural Angus and Greenham Tasmania Natural Beef.
Minister for industry and employment Ben Carroll said the government is supporting local jobs and local businesses, so they can boost the Latrobe Valley’s economy.
Training and employment of the company’s staff have also been supported through FGM Consultants, a Jobs Victoria provider.
Funding is also being given to four other businesses, which will result in an additional 26 jobs being created in the region.
The companies are Executive Media, Neptune Apparel, JH Cuthbertson and GSE Health.
The grants from the Latrobe Valley Economic Facilitation Fund will result in $3.49 million worth of private investment for the region.