A power panel at The Woolshed
Four keynote speakers, each with a complete story to tell. The Committee for Greater Shepparton arranged for an exciting lineup of speakers to address their annual general meeting dinner held at The Woolshed last Wednesday.
The speakers were Peter Holmgren the CEO from AgBioEn, an exciting, $2B renewable energy project now under construction at Katunga. Next was Tommy Huppert, the CEO of Cannatrek who later this year will be constructing a $160M medicinal cannabis farm in Lemnos. The third speaker was Robert Giles, the new CEO of SPC in Shepparton and the final speaker was Anthony Forster, the manager of inland fisheries for the Victorian Fisheries Authority speaking on the new fish hatchery to be established in Arcadia.
The AgBioEn renewable energy project will cover some 7,500ha much of which will be devoted to producing some 640,000 tonne of biomass and the conversion facility has begun construction with the preliminary earthworks underway. Operating around the clock, the facility may have up to 400 to 500 people working on the site with stage one in operation in the first half of 2021.
Cannatrek was recently featured in The Adviser with a soon to be constructed, 180ha of medicinal cannabis production. The project recently received Federal Government endorsement, such is the global acceptance. This project will also create in the order of 400 jobs for the region.
SPC possibly needs no introduction, having been a feature of Shepparton for more than 100 years, it is now in new hands with new ideas. A major exporter to Asia and in particular China, Robert Giles sees potential growth for the firm due particularly to the expected increased demand for certifiably clean food production. SPC are also looking to reduce their single use packaging imprint with tin cans holding favour due to their potential for recycling.
The final speaker is responsible for the new fish hatchery now in the process of design and which should be operation by 2022. Recreational fishing is a billion dollar industry that has been severely affected by aspects of changing conditions and the impact inappropriate water management is having on the river systems. The release of cold waters from reservoirs at the wrong times has had a major effect on some of the now in decline species of murray cod, golden perch and freshwater catfish. It is intended that half of the 40 or so jobs that will open up will be offered to Indigenous fish breeders.
