Meat plant creates jobs

About 70 jobs will be created by yesterday’s launch of a new meat processing centre in Bunbury.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman opened the facility and said the Bunbury Meat Centre was a welcome development for the State’s beef and lamb industries.

The centre, which adjoins V&V Walsh sheep and beef abattoir, was built with a $31 million investment by Woolworths.

‘‘Investment and innovation in the WA livestock industry is critical for it to grow and prosper,’’ Mr Redman said.

‘‘This modern new processing and packaging centre is a unique facility which will enable direct distribution to retail outlets across the State.’’

General manager of fresh food Pat McEntee said Woolworths had employed a further 70 staff members, bringing the centre’s total number of employees to more than 230.

The extension has added more than 4000sq m to the facility and includes new staff amenities and offices, a cold storage warehouse that can hold more than 2000 pallets of chilled meat and a new meat production facility.