Farm Frites’ Dooen USD425m Investment to Generate 250 Jobs
Farm Frites’ choice to locate its new manufacturing facility at the Wimmera Agriculture and Logistics Hub (WAL Hub) in Dooen has been welcomed by the Horsham Rural City Council.
Because of the WAL Hub’s strategic location near potato-growing regions in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, as well as its links to rail and road networks, it plans to construct a 24-hour production facility there.
Mayor Cr Ian Ross said the USD425m investment would create 250 jobs for local workers.
“Farm Frites’ decision to invest in Dooen follows a nationwide search and highlights the region’s proud agricultural history and excellent connections to road and rail. We are excited to welcome the Farm Frites proposal to our community and look forward to the positive impact this investment will have on our local economy and job market. This is a fantastic opportunity for Horsham and the Wimmera region,” Cr Ross said.
The project is subject to planning and environmental approvals from the State Government, Council, and the Environment Protection Authority.
A Perfect Place
According to the company’s representatives, 750 construction jobs will be created, out of which 245 permanent jobs – in the facility and regional sales offices.
Dooen is perfectly located in between the best potato-growing regions of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. This central location, as well as Dooen’s ideal connections to the national road freight and rail network, make it the right place for the company’s first Australian factory.
The site in Dooen is located within the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT) and the Wimmera Agriculture and Logistics Hub.
The 30-hectare food processing facility will include unloading and storage areas for potatoes, a closed conveyor for transporting potatoes from storage to the factory, a production line that takes raw, unwashed potatoes and makes the finished, frozen products shipped to Farm Frites’ customers, an internal road network for light and heavy vehicles, and all associated waste, water, and monitoring equipment.
Subject to planning and environmental approvals, the company aims to commence construction in late 2025 or early 2026 and start production in early 2027.
