A Labor Government, if elected on May 21, will boost manufacturing jobs on the Central Coast by funding a Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub to be established at Lisarow.
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Ed Husic, joined Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, on site on May 10 to make the announcement.
McBride said the Coast has a strong history of manufacturing, especially in food and beverage, but currently has no pilot facilities for product development.
“We produce premium products that are enjoyed here and around the world,” she said.
“The Coast needs proper investment to boost local manufacturing and secure more well-paid jobs for locals for the future.”
A Labor Government would invest $17.14M to create the hub, to be backed up by $37.5M.
The hub would be managed by not-for-profit manufacturing network, Central Coast Industry Connect (CCIC).
This would create 285 jobs – 85 during construction and another 200 ongoing jobs in food product manufacturing.
McBride said the jobs boost was urgently, with one in four people on the Coast commuting outside the region for work every day.
“With the Coast expected to grow its population by another 75,500 people by 2036, it is vital we create more jobs in the region to keep up with that growth,” she said.
The project has the full support of CCIC and its partners TrendPac, Regional Development Australia, and the University of Newcastle.
Local food manufacturers Sanitarium, Mars Food, Sara Lee and Agrana are set to come on board as collaborators.
The hub would be strategically located near a mix of local and national food and beverage manufacturers and smaller artisan food producers and would drive economic growth in the region while expanding its food and beverage market.
It would house a purpose-built facility designed to grow local food manufacturing businesses and attract more manufacturers to the region and support small and medium food producers to scale up their business and create more jobs.
Husic said the Coalition Government has completely neglected to deliver good manufacturing jobs on the Central Coast.
“There’s huge potential here with industry ready to act yet the Coalition has never done the right thing by the Coast when it comes to manufacturing jobs,” he said.
“Labor is determined to reverse that with this investment.”
Primary source: Media release, May 10, 2022, Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, Interviews Ed Husic Shadow Minister for Innovation, Frank Zamut CC Industry Connect