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The Border Watch : October 30th 2013
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NEWS TIPS newsroom@tbw.com.au Federal MP to meet with management FEDERAL Member for Barker Tony Pasin is organising to meet with McCain Foods regional president Louis Wolthers following McCain’s recent announcement that it would close its Penola potato processing plant. Mr Pasin said while he understood external pressures had brought about the closure, it was important that he highlight the negative impacts of the decision, both short-term and long-term, on behalf of the plant’s employees, local potato growers and affected communities in the region. “One of the most important things for me is ensuring McCain continues to support local potato growers and that the industry remains viable in the South East,” Mr Pasin said. NEWS EXTRA 9 “McCain has blamed increasing costs of labour and electricity, as well as competition from cheaper imported potatoes. “Plainly, we need to fi nd ways to reduce the cost of doing business in Australia so that we can be more competitive.” STEPPING IN: Member for Barker Tony Pasin. Since the McCain announcement, Mr Pasin has remained in contact with potato growers in the South East as they continue to renegotiate supply contracts with McCain. Mr Pasin’s forthcoming meeting with McCain comes after he discussed the impending closure of the Penola plant with Federal Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane on his most recent stay in Canberra. “I briefed the minister in relation to McCain’s announcement and outlined to him the likely local impact of the plant’s closure,” Mr Pasin said. “He shared my disappointment, but remains absolutely committed to ensuring there is a future for regional industries. “One of the things I took out of my discussion with the minister was the importance of companies like McCain engaging with the government when they make big decisions such as this. “Working in conjunction with government and local communities ensures all options are explored and better outcomes for all interested parties can be achieved.” Mr Pasin said he also remained committed to helping affected employees and suppliers. “I will do everything I can to ensure Barker is always a competitive place for a range of industries and that our diverse regional economy remains on solid footing for growth and the creation of new jobs in the future,” he said. UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Kalangadoo-based potato grower Tim Heysen is unsure about the affordability and effi ciency of freighting his produce to Ballarat after it was announced the McCain Foods Safries processing plant will close in December. Picture: SAM DOWDY Closure impact ripples out McCain decision expected to put growers under pressure Mr Heysen said. DO SA DOWDY SAM sam@tbw.com.au am@ WHILE almost 60 people will be out of factory jobs when the Safries plant south of Penola closes in December, Kalangadoo farmer Tim Heysen is concerned about repercussions that will fl ow on to the agriculture sector, voicing fears for the security of growers. McCain Foods has announced the company would close the Penola facility on December 20, leaving 59 people without jobs. South East potato growers will be expected to send their potatoes to McCain’s Ballarat processing plant, but they remain unsure about the affordability, practicality and effi ciency of the change. “Contracts for the coming season are already in place, so it’s simply a question of how we can make this work in a practical sense,” “The prices we’ve been receiving, particularly over the past two years, have been dropping signifi cantly and if we have to pay all the freight for our potatoes to go to Ballarat at the current price I have no doubt we could be making a loss. “There are also issues about whether there will be enough trucks available to transport such a large amount of potatoes during harvest because specialty trailers are needed.” Under previous contracts, Mr Heysen has been required to supply the Ballarat plant and Safries with an equal share of his crop, but is unsure if it will be possible for all potatoes to be transported directly to Ballarat. “I doubt the process and storage Star Watch ARIES: (March 21 - April 20) Lucky Colour: Yellow Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 2.4.5.6. Lotto Numbers: 2.14.34.42.22.1. A lover might not quite measure up to your expectations, best to look for a more suitable partner. At work, there may be a bit of a hiccup. Stay calm and do not loose your temper. TAURUS: (April 21 - May 20) Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 8.9.5.6. Lotto Numbers: 8.9.34.42.33.5. Some could sneak away with their partner or lover for a quiet weekend. Do not be surprised if this is going to change a few things around you. Domestic situations are looking quite good. Take care of your health. GEMINI: (May 21 - June 21) Lucky Colour: Cream Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 7,8,9,3, Lotto Numbers: 1,14,23,34,45,22, Do not quarrel with loved ones, you’ll only get upset and wont achieve anything. Although making up could be quite enjoyable. Travel plans may not pan out as you might have imagined. CANCER: (June 22 - July 22) Lucky Colour: Violet Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 7,9,2,4, Lotto Numbers: 1,15,23,34,41,22, Stay away from people who like to argue. You are in need of a nice peaceful and romantic session. It might be an idea to go away for either a dirty weekend or romantic one. Energy wise, you are quite up to it. It even will be aff ordable. LEO: (July 23 - August 22) Lucky Colour: Brown Lucky Day: Sunday Racing Numbers: 1,4,2,1 Lotto Numbers: 1,12,23,34,37,45, Loved ones may be in need of our help and advice. Something rather important has come up and you are elected the problem solver. Your health needs looking after so do the purse strings. VIRGO: (August 23 - September 23) Lucky Colour: Orange Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 5,7,6,2, Lotto Numbers: 1,16,26,39,41,3, A very good period for romantic interludes and a raunchy evening is indicated. Some fi nancial matters are better left for the experts to sort out. LIBRA: (September 24 - October 23) Lucky Colour: Silver Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 2,6,7,9, Lotto Numbers: 1,6,23,37,7,22, There is a danger that you may be over working yourself where your romantic escapades are concerned and you might start to miss sleep. It will certainly sap your strength but your love life is in good shape. SCORPIO: (October 24 - November 22) Lucky Colour: Lemon Lucky Day: Saturday Racing Numbers: 7,9,2,4, Lotto Numbers: 1,6,23,38,36,30, Don’t make promises to anybody, especially not to the little piece on the side you just met. A tendency to spend more than is coming in is indicated, so watch your step. SAGITTARIUS: (November 23 - December 20) Lucky Colour: Cream Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 1,4,1,7, Lotto Numbers: 1,17,23,38,36,5, An old fl ame may suddenly make an appearance and set the old ticker pumping. Many will start an early spring cleaning and will be coming across items thought lost. Some odd jobs may have to be attended to. capabilities of the Ballarat plant will be suffi cient to handle the sort of volume it will face during harvest now that the Penola plant will be closed,” he said. “The processing capability will be suffi cient over a 12 month period, but not during harvest. if we have to pay all the freight for our potatoes to go to Ballarat at the current price I have no doubt we could be making a loss Kalangadoo farmer Tim Heysen “I think some of the potatoes will still need to be stored at Safries.” National industry body AUSVEG public affairs manager William Churchill said he would like to see McCain assist potato growers with transportation. “This (Safries closure) is just another nail in the coffi n for an industry which has faced an onslaught of assaults, including rising costs and cheaply produced imports from overseas,” he said. “It is hoped that all efforts are made by McCain to continue sourcing potatoes from these Penola growers and making them into chips in Ballarat. “We would like to see McCain outline packages to assist affected growers in both the short and long term, including logistical support. “McCain needs to engage more closely with growers and industry in the future to ensure better outcomes for the Australian food production industry.” Mr Heysen said most growers would be unsure about the future due to a lack of knowledge at this stage in the process. “I think we need to get more information about how we will freight, what costs we will incur and future tonnage,” he said. “We will need to evaluate everything after this coming season. “Worst case scenario could see us stop growing, but I hope we can work something out in the best interests of the growers and processors.” Sarah Kulkens S CAPRICORN: (December 21 - January 19) Lucky Colour: Green Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 5,7,9,3, Lotto Numbers: 1,4,23,28,33,3, It would be in your best interests to pay a bit more attention to loved ones. This could pay very handsome dividends in the love making stakes. Take a gamble with someone born in June. AQUARIUS: (January 20 - February 19) Lucky Colour: Apricot. Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 4,7,8,9, Lotto Numbers: 1,16,23,35,45,11, You may get a bit irritable, because loved ones may not be seeing things your way. Try a little bit of coaxing with a nice bottle of wine, a roaring fi re and maybe some oysters. The situation might change dramatically in your favour. Leave important decisions until later. PISCES: (February 20 - March 20) Lucky Colour: Fawn Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 4,7,2,4, Lotto Numbers: 1,16,23,36,41,9, A chance meeting could lead you astray and have you stumble into a very romantic aff air. This aff air could blossom into a real rip snorter. Use your energy to help you in a positive way and you could achieve some of your wishes. Kerry Kulkens Psychic Line 1900 946 244 or 1300 246 244 (call cost: $5.50 incl GST per min. mob/pay extra) Visit www.kerrykulkens.com.au The Border Watch, Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - 9 618240
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