Geraldton cucumber farm linked with Yamatji Southern, YEL, Indigenous Business Australia and 4Ways Fresh

A joint project is aiming to create Australia’s largest cucumber farm in Geraldton over the next five years, which will involve 600 greenhouses and more jobs on offer in the construction, horticulture and seasonal work sectors. Yamatji Enterprise Limited and Indigenous Business Australia are investing with 4Ways Fresh in a joint business enterprise, expanding a cucumber farm in Bootenal by 350 greenhouses, built to produce two varieties of cucumber. YEL is an independent body seeking business opportunities for Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation. As part of the Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement, the State Government signed a $5 million business development unit funding agreement. Discussions between the partners began at the start of the year, Yamatji Southern director Fred Taylor said as YEL looked at commercial opportunities. The large project in Bootenal would develop in stages, offering young people employment, training opportunities and building positive relationships. “It’s going to be a positive, long-term project — and building the relationship with 4Ways — we are really happy about this project, building this relationship and watching the opportunities that will present allowing people to gain employment,” he said. 4Ways Fresh general manager Kingsley Songer said the project was awaiting approval from the local council, and the project would continue to expand in the future. “Initially we plan to have another 350 greenhouses over the next three years — assuming we can get the council or Shire approval in time — we will be producing product this time next year,” he said. Continental and Lebanese cucumbers will be grown to begin with, and eventually other crops such as capsicum, eggplant and tomatoes will be grown among the 600 greenhouses. Mr Songer said once the greenhouses were constructed, there would be up to 80 people employed full-time. “There will be plenty of scope for us to branch out into once we’ve satisfied our need for cucumbers. A lot of the fertilisers and sprays will be purchased locally. The infrastructure will be purchased locally, ground work and building,” he said. “We’ve formed a really strong bond with both the local Indigenous community and also the IBA, the project has moved very quickly and the co-operation between all parties has been exemplary.” The majority of produce would be transported back to South Australia for packaging, a small percentage would go to Perth Markets for sale. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the City had conducted early discussions with the owners and expected approval to be under way in a timely manner. “We’re still going through the planning applications but hopefully we can approve in good time for planting season,” he said. Mr Van Styn said the council had long supported these developments and looked forward to seeing the project come to life.