Ginger giant moves into Mary Valley
Australia's largest ginger producer, Templeton Ginger, based on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is expanding into the Mary Valley.
The company has signed a development lease on 233 hectares of land on three properties acquired for the failed Traveston Crossing dam project.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has told State Parliament the new enterprise will create 14 full-time jobs and 28 seasonal positions.
"Templeton Enterprises have been farming ginger on the Sunshine Coast for more than 70 years," he said.
"They plan to produce 800 tonnes of ginger and 5,500 tonnes of sugarcane annually in the Mary Valley to meet the demands of the Australian market and to replace ginger imports from Fiji."
Mr Seeney says three recently signed deals will be a boost for the valley's economy.
"All combined the three companies' projects will secure more than 50 full-time jobs in the Mary Valley," he said.
"These new jobs will make the Mary Valley an attractive place for more people to live and to increase the demand for the more than 400 properties that the Queensland Government wants to return to private ownership."
Mr Seeney says another 10 Government-owned properties will be released onto the open market this week.
Gympie Mayor Ron Dyne has commended the Government for the work it is doing to rejuvenate the Mary Valley.
"I know the discussions have been long and they were certainly discussions that were occurring with the previous government but this Government's brought it to fruition," he said.
"It's not an easy concept to try and dispose of all this land and so forth.
"I think the Government are doing a good job with it and also to get people of renown into the area and with those industries and develop those jobs."
He says the Government is working on bringing other new ventures to the Mary Valley.
"I know that the Government is looking at other ones ... and they're in deep negotiations and confidential negotiations," he said.
"I look forward to hearing outcomes and that will provide additional people into the Mary Valley and additional jobs."
Source: ABC News, 18 April 2013
