VITERRA will build a $10-million grain receival site at Dooen alongside the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.
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The Canadian-owned company, which already has its Wimmera base at Dooen, announced on Wednesday afternoon it would expand its facility to include a 200,000-tonne storage capability.
Executive manager Dean McQueen said investment would directly benefit Wimmera growers and exporters alike.
"Viterra is cementing its long-term commitment to rural Victoria and is making significant investments to expand its grain storage, processing and packing facilities," Mr McQueen said.
"Our investment and new facilities at Dooen will create a more efficient supply chain for container and bulk exports from the region.
"Growers will have access to a broader range of markets and reduced freight time and cost."
Horsham councillor and Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal committee chairman Bernard Gross said the development was a significant milestone for the terminal.
"This is the first major investment parallel to the freight terminal, and development feeds development," Cr Gross said. "This improvement to the region's storage capability will also help alleviate some of the fears the region's farmers have at the moment about storage if there is a bumper harvest.
"There will still be a lot of people who choose to store grain on-farm, but every bit of storage space helps."
Cr Gross said the committee had been in discussion with Viterra for some time about expanding its Dooen facilities.
Construction has started on the project and Mr McQueen said he expected it to be ready by this season's harvest.
"Viterra has an existing container packing facility at Dooen, currently packing 120,000 tonnes of grain a year, which will double once the receival facility is completed," Mr McQueen said.