A major expansion backed by the Allan Labor Government is enabling a Kyabram dairy processing facility to churn more milk and more local jobs.
Goulburn Valley Creamery has more than doubled its production capacity to 100 million litres of milk per year with the $10 million fit out of a larger processing area and upgrades to key equipment and water infrastructure.
The increased capacity has enabled the company to employ 17 new operational staff at the facility and take in more milk from Goulburn Valley dairy farms. The local supply chain is also benefitting, with an increased demand for frozen milk storage following processing.
The expansion was completed last year, through an investment in upgrades to Goulburn Valley Creamery's water treatment infrastructure to allow the company to treat water onsite.
The company can now treat more water than it was previously able to, using a variety of technologies such as filtration equipment and dissolved air flotation systems.
Access to safe water is critical for the company's operations and underpinned its decision to deliver the broader expansion and upgrades of the facility to produce more dairy products for their customers.
Located in the historic Kyabram Jam Factory - home to IXL jams - Goulburn Valley Creamery has operated from the site since 2020. From frozen milk concentrate to frozen cream, the company's wide range of dairy products are sourced locally and exported globally.
Goulburn Valley Creamery has grown to employ 90 full-time workers across Victoria. The company has more than doubled the workforce at its dairy processing facility in Kyabram to 30 workers.
The dairy industry is an important part of Kyabram's economy and the surrounding area. Around 30 per cent of Victoria's dairy farms are in northern Victoria, producing 1.55 billion litres of milk in the 2023-24 financial year.
This project is part of the Government's support for rural and regional Victoria to be an even better place to live, work, stay and play. For more information, go to rdv.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).
As stated by Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes
"Victoria's dairy industry is an important driver of local jobs and economic activity, which is why we're thrilled that Goulburn Valley Creamery's expansion has led to more jobs than expected."
"The expansion project is enabling local dairy producers like Goulburn Valley Creamery to support towns like Kyabram with more workers and a strengthened supply chain."
As stated by Chief Executive Officer Goulburn Valley Creamery, Mancel Hickey
"We're thrilled with the expansion at our Kyabram factory which has included water treatment upgrades that have boosted our production capacity and opened up new market opportunities and enabled us to employ more people in the local area."
"These improvements have helped us bring on more staff and deliver more products to market, while also providing a flow-on benefit to local suppliers."
