V&V Walsh’s Bunbury abattoir expansion gets the green light

V&V Walsh has gained final approval to build a “state-of-the-art” cold storage facility as part of its long-awaited Bunbury abattoir expansion — but it will cost $12 million more than initially estimated. The new building — which follows the recent expansion of the Bunbury-based sheep and beef processor’s sheep-processing floor — would boost freezing capacity, allowing the number of sheep processed to increase from 5000 to 6000 head daily. The project was valued at $30m when first proposed in July 2020, however, increasing pressure in WA’s construction market has seen that figure blow out to $42m. But V&V Walsh — which is one of Australia’s biggest meat processors — is pushing ahead after receiving final planning approval from a Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel. The panel, which included City of Bunbury councillors Michelle Steck and Betty McCleary, unanimously approved V&V Walsh’s development application on March 15. The new cold storage facility would occupy a 51,997sq m lot of industry-zoned crown land between the plant to the east, South Western Highway to the west and Rawling Road to the north. With the expansion set to add up to 150 jobs to the company’s 1000-strong workforce, Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the approval was “welcome news”. “The creation of any jobs in Bunbury is great news, and the fact that V&V Walsh’s expansion could create up to 150 positions will be a real boost for our local economy,” he said. “The further investment by V&V Walsh into its operations demonstrates investor confidence in Bunbury continues to grow and this can have a flow-on effect. “Undoubtedly local contractors will be used during construction, so that will also be an added boost for local suppliers and trades.” V&V Walsh has operated in the region for more than 60 years and produces more than 40 million kilograms of meat products each year. The company sends about 70 per cent of its product requiring freezing to several third party sites in Perth. Having the capacity to freeze product on-site would allow V&V Walsh to increase the number of lambs processed at the Bunbury site annually from 800,000 to one million head, according to planning documents. It would also help the company “secure our export licences and maintain competitive advantage in the market”. The building will include a purpose-built plate freezer, cold store and loading facilities to be connected by an elevated conveyor to the abattoir. In a letter to Bunbury City Council, V&V Walsh chief executive Patrick Walsh said the project would provide “a huge benefit to our business” and “a fantastic opportunity for the greater South West region which will have flow on effects right throughout the agricultural sector”. “Our goal for this parcel of land is to build a state of the art cold storage facility that has direct linkages to our processing plant while having direct access to the highway for truck movements,” he said. The project gained political backing in February last year after V&V Walsh secured a $700,000 grant through the State Government’s $10m Value Add Investment Grants program. It is unclear when work would begin or how long it would take, however, the planning approval is valid for six years and would lapse if the development was not “substantially commenced” within that time. The company has also flagged the possibility of a future stage two expansion to the cold storage facility that would allow it to service the greater South West region as a freezer and distribution centre. V&V Walsh could not be contacted for comment.