Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Morwell food-manufacturing precinct

Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (19:05): (193) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Regional Development in the other place, and the information I seek is an urgent update on the status of the Morwell food-manufacturing precinct. Two weeks ago I wrote to the minister seeking an update on the project slated for Princes Drive – a significant development for Morwell which has attracted investment of over $100 million and will provide 3250 direct and indirect jobs but has come to a grinding halt. The first stage of construction is relying on infrastructure upgrades which were meant to be provided by Regional Development Victoria under a $10 million promise made more than two years ago. The now Minister for Regional Development said construction would begin in late 2021 and proudly proclaimed at the time:

Morwell is moving ahead – investments like this build momentum and create a future of new and emerging industries with a spread of jobs and opportunities. I look forward to seeing the Food Manufacturing Precinct take shape and businesses moving in.

With a promised time frame for delivery and the need to start the building phase of the development, we rightly ask the question: what is the hold-up? For the last six months the developer has sought updates from the Andrews government and has been ignored time and time and time again – no response, no update; nothing. The people of Morwell have very real and valid concerns about whether this hugely significant and important project will actually materialise or if it will amount to nothing under the Andrews government, just like the electric vehicle manufacturing facility and the Lake Narracan housing development. Minister, what is going on with the Morwell food-manufacturing precinct, and why has Regional Development Victoria ignored all requests for updates?