Ginger spices up Mary Valley
Published Wednesday, 17 April, 2013 at 02:36 PM
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
The Mary Valley economy is set to receive another major boost after Australia’s biggest producer of ginger signed a development lease on 223 hectares of land in the Mary Valley.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney welcomed news of Templeton Farming Enterprise’s (TFE) agreement, the second in just a week, which would create up to 14 full-time jobs and as many as 28 seasonal jobs for the region.
“This is a huge win for the Mary Valley region and the local community, which suffered so much under the Bligh government’s failed plans for Traveston Dam,” Mr Seeney said.
“To see two major deals signed in the region in under a week proves big business is as keen to see the Mary Valley get back on track as the Newman Government is.
“This deal will take the full-time job-creation count for the region to more than 50 between three economic development projects now secured for the Mary Valley.”
Mr Seeney said TFE joined outdoor education specialists Higher Ground, who signed a development lease with the option to buy in February, and fern growers Cedar Hill, who signed last week.
“The Templeton family, who have been growing ginger on the Sunshine Coast for three generations, plans to establish a new farming operation on three lots at Tuchekoi Road, Bollier, and produce 800 tonnes of ginger and 5,500 tonnes of sugar cane by 2018,” he said.
“TFE has been leasing land at Kandanga on a month-by-month basis, but will be able to grow greater quantities of ginger on the three Bollier lots to meet the demand of the Australian market and replace ginger currently being imported from Fiji.
“My department has worked with TFE to include key milestones in the development lease, including issues around infrastructure, planting and harvesting of its ginger crop and irrigation, in the two-year development lease.”
Member for Gympie David Gibson said today’s announcement would not only directly benefit Mary Valley with increased jobs but it also heralded the growth in ginger production in our region at a time when Australia was importing ginger from overseas to meet demand.
“It’s clear that the productive soils of the Mary Valley will continue to contribute to Queensland’s agricultural production as they have done for so many years,” Mr Gibson said.
“This growth in ginger shows the diversity of interest in the Mary Valley as businesses look to expand and relocate to our region.”
The Deputy Premier also announced that another 10 government-owned properties would be released on to the open market this week.
To view the listings, or to be part of the registration of interest process for economic development projects, visit www.maryvalleyproperty.com or call 13 QGOV (13 7468).
[ENDS] 17 April 2013
Media Contact: Kate Haddan 0418 373 516
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney welcomed news of Templeton Farming Enterprise’s (TFE) agreement, the second in just a week, which would create up to 14 full-time jobs and as many as 28 seasonal jobs for the region.
“This is a huge win for the Mary Valley region and the local community, which suffered so much under the Bligh government’s failed plans for Traveston Dam,” Mr Seeney said.
“To see two major deals signed in the region in under a week proves big business is as keen to see the Mary Valley get back on track as the Newman Government is.
“This deal will take the full-time job-creation count for the region to more than 50 between three economic development projects now secured for the Mary Valley.”
Mr Seeney said TFE joined outdoor education specialists Higher Ground, who signed a development lease with the option to buy in February, and fern growers Cedar Hill, who signed last week.
“The Templeton family, who have been growing ginger on the Sunshine Coast for three generations, plans to establish a new farming operation on three lots at Tuchekoi Road, Bollier, and produce 800 tonnes of ginger and 5,500 tonnes of sugar cane by 2018,” he said.
“TFE has been leasing land at Kandanga on a month-by-month basis, but will be able to grow greater quantities of ginger on the three Bollier lots to meet the demand of the Australian market and replace ginger currently being imported from Fiji.
“My department has worked with TFE to include key milestones in the development lease, including issues around infrastructure, planting and harvesting of its ginger crop and irrigation, in the two-year development lease.”
Member for Gympie David Gibson said today’s announcement would not only directly benefit Mary Valley with increased jobs but it also heralded the growth in ginger production in our region at a time when Australia was importing ginger from overseas to meet demand.
“It’s clear that the productive soils of the Mary Valley will continue to contribute to Queensland’s agricultural production as they have done for so many years,” Mr Gibson said.
“This growth in ginger shows the diversity of interest in the Mary Valley as businesses look to expand and relocate to our region.”
The Deputy Premier also announced that another 10 government-owned properties would be released on to the open market this week.
To view the listings, or to be part of the registration of interest process for economic development projects, visit www.maryvalleyproperty.com or call 13 QGOV (13 7468).
[ENDS] 17 April 2013
Media Contact: Kate Haddan 0418 373 516