The State Government is helping a Gippsland business step into its next chapter – launching a new agricultural irrigation plumbing business through the support of the Forestry Transition Fund.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence last week announced a $130,000 investment into DL Jackson Contracting Australia to expand their agricultural services from designing and building specialty irrigation and pumping systems to also providing technical support and repairs.
The current business has been providing plumbing services to Gippsland and other parts of Victoria since 2015. It currently works on large-scale agricultural projects and identified the need to expand the business to meet the needs of its customers.
The new business, Macalister Poly and Irrigation will provide specialist services to use best industry practices in the installation of large efficient irrigation systems which conserve the water being applied to either crops or paddocks.
Two full-time positions will be created from the funding, adding to the current workforce – helping the business as they intend to employ more staff as it grows.
The Transition Fund has been great in allowing us to provide new opportunities to locals and expand into a sector which requires us to use specialty welding equipment. The funds have taken away the burden of initial overheads and allowed us to concentrate on the business development,” DL Jackson Contracting Australia director Daniel Jackson said.
The Forestry Transition Program has invested $11.5 million in transition funding to businesses and communities in the Wellington Shire to support the creation of new jobs following the end of native timber harvesting.
“Supporting businesses like DL Jackson Contracting Australia to take new
opportunities and grow industries is
exactly what the Forestry Transition Fund
is all about,” Minister Spence said.
“This support is helping to grow employment and capability in efficient agriculture, which further develops Gippsland as the food bowl of Victoria,” Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh said.
The support has resulted in 97 percent of native timber workers in the area remaining in employment – either in their existing jobs or finding new work and the creation of 60 new jobs.
The Forestry Transition Fund is currently taking applications from interested businesses and organisations looking to create new jobs in communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting.
Expressions of Interest close on August 29.
