Talley's poised to grab slice of meat industry

Talley's Fisheries is breaking into the meat industry by setting up its own $30 million processing plant at Invercargill.

The move will create 400 new jobs for the city.

Invercargill City Council chief executive Richard King said the council had sold 37ha of land at Awarua, south of the city, to Talley's, which already has a significant shareholding in North Island-based meat processing company Affco.

In 2000, Talley's tried to buy a major stake in another North Island company, Richmond.

The Awarua site is across the Bluff highway from the Ballance Agri-Nutrients phosphate plant.

"They're talking about a seasonal meat processing plant, creating 400 new jobs," King said.

The plant would be state of the art and high-tech, he said.

Talley's first approached the council about a potential site and indicated it wanted to be close to the city.

One of the advantages of the area was the access to key services.

"The Bluff water supply pipeline goes past the site and all effluent will be piped back to the Clifton wastewater treatment station," King said.

The Awarua block was also close to the highway and rail link.

The news was all good for the city, he said.

"Talley's have an excellent reputation as an employer. They train and look after their staff."

The company's interest in Invercargill could be attributed to the city's economic resurgence and good vibes, said King.

It is understood the company is keen to start building the plant as soon as possible.

Environment Southland consents officer John Engel said the decision to pipe effluent to the Clifton treatment station would cut a major chunk out of the resource consent process Talley's would have to go through.

Exact resource consent requirements would not be known until details of the development were released, he said.

A spokeswoman for Alliance Group chief executive Owen Poole said the company was aware Talley's had been showing interest in the Awarua development.

No one from Talley's was available for comment.

- NZPA