This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE former Heinz food processing plant in the Goulburn Valley has hit the market with vacant possession.
Located at 19 Winter Road, Girgarre, the property spans 9.204 hectares of land and has a total building area of 11,075 sqm across a range of buildings of various sizes and uses, and significant infrastructure such as shedding, expansive yard area, security fencing, weighbridge, and water infrastructure.
Colliers’ Travis Hurst and Adele Foott, and Gagliardi Scott Real Estate’s Rocky Gagliardi are managing the listing, with expressions of interest closing 24th May.
Heinz closed its operations at the plant at the beginning of 2012, with the company moving its sauce production to New Zealand, causing the loss of 146 local jobs.
At the time, Heinz Australia’s supply chain director said the cost of making the factory competitive was too high.
Foott said the property is ready for a buyer to occupy, with the existing premises “in sound condition and ready for varying uses”, and offered with the added advantage to develop the property further.
Foott noted its synergies with the region’s strong agricultural industry, with the Goulburn Valley referred to as Victoria’s “food bowl”.
At the time of its closure, Heinz donated 10 hectares of land to the Girgarre Development Committee.
In the years since, the food processing plant had been considered for conversion into a $12 million organic waste-to-energy plant that could treat more than 30,000 tonnes of liquid waste each year, while Melbourne-based company Symbiopro also considered plans for a $20 million bio-conversion facility that could process 50,000 tonnes of organic matter annually.
