mmg.com.au

Design plans for the Goulburn Valley Food Co-operative’s Kyabram factory will be unveiled to the public in Kyabram tonight.

The co-operative will hold a joint meeting with sister organisation, the Australian Grown Food Company, at Kyabram Community and Learning Centre.

Members of the public are welcome to join the meeting which will be held in Room 7 at KCLC from 6pm.

Co-operative chairman Les Cameron said the factory would be visible to everyone coming into Kyabram on Kyabram-Echuca Rd.

Architects Ben Waters and Will Loft from Studio Osk/Antarctica went through the design with Mr Cameron last week before meeting with Shire of Campaspe Council representatives.

‘‘These plans are truly amazing. They will attract attention across the country for their innovation, design concept and sustainability,’’ he said.

Co-operative director and former Heinz employee Ken Covington said having the architects present the design concepts to a local audience will be a great way of moving closer to the group’s goal.

‘‘Within a month all the people who have been working with us will be joint owners of the factory land, and that is a great milestone for all of us,’’ Mr Covington said.

The co-operative is now in the final stages of buying land for the factory from Kyabram businessman Scott Collins.

Purchase of the site, on Wood Rd in Kyabram Industrial Estate, is expected to be completed on October 31.

Former Heinz factory supervisors Simon Fraser and Chris Lloyd are both confident the co-operative’s plan can succeed.

‘‘All our conversations help us take another step forward,’’ Mr Fraser said.

‘‘Lots of new ideas have been accepted as the way forward. In particular our ‘warehouse in the back of a truck’ will help us keep costs to a minimum,’’ Mr Lloyd said.

Tomato farmer, and co-operative director, Bruce Weekes is also hopeful of success but said the manufacturing industry in Australia is in deep trouble and things will continue to be tough.

‘‘We have to be really competitive to make this work but there is no doubt a co-operative way of doing things is the only chance,’’ he said.