Poultry farmer Ed Wehbe proposes processing facility for Goulburn

Eddie Wehbe is lodging an application to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for the facility, proposed for land in Common Street.

The development is estimated to be worth $70 million to $90m and is expected to employ about 150 people.

Mr Wehbe has operated a chicken farm on the Gurrundah Road, some 11km west of Goulburn for the past four years. He supplies Red Lea Chickens from six large climate-controlled sheds on the Parkesbourne property.

Mr Wehbe declined to speak about details of processing plant at this stage, saying he was in the process of lodging documentation with the State Government.

“(But) it is an exciting new development coming to town and I’ll definitely have more information in time,” he said.

However the council confirmed in a report to Tuesday night’s meeting that the plant was proposed for Common Street. Mr Wehbe has already purchased the site, on industrial land on the southern side of Common Street, just past the Sinclair Street intersection.  

Councillors were asked at their meeting on Tuesday to consider whether to help in “promoting the development” by applying for a $10 million grant under the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund. 

Under the $272m Fund’s terms, projects must be for common or private use infrastructure that “deliver significant and sustainable benefits to the region by creating jobs and flow-on benefits to the economy.” The money can be used for purchase of materials, infrastructure “which is not the sole activity of the project,” labour hire, construction, plant and equipment hire and external consulting costs.

The minimum $10m grant must be matched by a co-contribution, which can come from other sources, such as the State Government. Applications close on April 27 this year.

Mayor Bob Kirk said he and the council held discussions with Mr Wehbe about six months ago.

“We’ll do what we can in terms of assisting the development,” he said.

“We’re happy to see it happening and these types of employment generating developments are what we’ve been banging on about for a while. We’re also happy to assist any other developments that are creating jobs,” he said.

The project also feeds into a council drive to entice the poultry industry to the region as part of its strategic plan.

Cr Kirk said chicken and turkey farmers in outer Sydney were under pressure to either cease operation or relocate due urban sprawl and the development pressures that were coming to bear.

The council was playing in to this, pitching its transport accessibility and relatively low-cost land to those looking for alternative sites.

“There are a lot of big corporates around Griffith but there are also other operators who don’t want to go that far and Ed (Wehbe) is a case in point,” Cr Kirk said.

“He has set up his operation and is looking to expand.”

The Mayor said the processing plant would be a further catalyst for poultry farmers to establish in this area. 

“They will be looking for alternative venues and we offer Goulburn as a solution,” he said.

“If there is a processing plant here, it takes away a whole other expense in terms of transport (to suppliers). It is very complementary.”

In addition to applying for the $10m grant, the council will lodge a submission to the State Government on the development application. 

Meantime, it is also hoping to tap into other grant opportunities to build projects on the boil.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett on Tuesday recommended applying for a total $2,283,366 under the State’s round two Stronger Communities Fund. These are:

A total $1,669,419 is available to Goulburn Mulwaree Council under the fund. Mr Bennett said while the projects’ value exceeded this amount, the State Government would undertake its own consultation on the works recommended. 

The council received $894,000 for Victoria Park improvements, including a rage cage, skate park extension and lights at Seiffert Oval under round one. It also scored $122,000 for toilet amenities and RV dump station at Tarago.

The Wollondilly Walking Track, to which the council has allocated $1.7m in its 2018/19 budget, has already won $894,000 in grant funding. 

The council is hoping grants will cover all of the project and is also applying to the federal government’s Building Better Regions fund.

In addition, it is vying for $10m from the State’s Sports Infrastructure Fund for the $37m Goulburn Aquatic centre upgrade.