After a decade of planning, partnerships and lobbying Frank Sammut of Central Coast Industry Connect is cautiously optimistic about the Federal Budget allocation of $17.2 million to build its Food Manufacturing and Innovation Hub for the region.
Sammut’s CCIC as the lead manufacturing industry body was pleased to see that the promised $17.2M had been allocated in the budget as indicated by Labor during the election period. Sammut said:
“The Coast has a strong Food and beverage manufacturing presence contributing $1.4B in output to the region.
“This [announcement] is a key element in the establishment of a Food and beverage manufacturing ecosystem in the region”
A strategic business case for the hub was developed by CCIC late last year with the assistance of Food Innovation Australia Limited and major industry partner TrendPac.
The business case had support from regional stakeholders including Regional Development Australia Central Coast, the University of Newcastle and major food manufacturing companies Sara Lee, Mars Food, Sanitarium and Agrana Australia.
The project became an election commitment on a rainy day in May by the now Federal Labor government after support was given for the project, from Federal MP for Dobell Emma McBride and then Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Ed Husic.
Dobell MP Emma McBride was beaming after the budget announcement saying to CCN “we are so pleased that in the first term of an Albonese Federal Government to be able to confirm our commitment to the Central Coast.
“This is something is very exciting for the Central Coast and that we have been working with the sector on for such a long time”
McBride said “this will create 200 plus local jobs, in growing community we know this is good for the local economy”
Regional Development Australia CEO and Director of Regional Development, John Mouland, says the hub will build on the regional collaboration and strong foundations laid by all organisations involved with the delivery of the Food Innovation Initiative to date.
Mouland said “RDACC has long championed the Central Coast as a premier food region. Back in 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established between RDACC, CCIC and the University of Newcastle..”
The construction of the hub is expected to commence early in 2023.
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David Abrahams
