Fresh benefit

By Lia Bichel
HUNDREDS of people across Melbourne’s south east will reap the benefits of a new fresh produce distribution centre in Dandenong.
The South Eastern Fresh Distribution Centre is also expected to have an on-site TAFE with a focus on teaching fresh produce distribution and the practices surrounding it.
Fresh Fruit Pty chief executive Rod Kerley said the facility would distribute fresh fruit and vegetables from growers around Dandenong and Melbourne to retailers in Melbourne’s south east.
“We chose the centre for Dandenong because we see the Dandenong area as vital in distribution to Melbourne’s south east and Gippsland areas,” he said.
Though the centre would be closed to the public, Mr Kerley said it was a major development valuable to local residents.
“The centre would not be like a market, but instead a distribution centre to retailers,” he said.
“We believe between 200 and 300 jobs will be created. We have 10 original shareholders. We are looking for people to sign up as owners as part of the facility or as tenants.”
While a site has been chosen but not confirmed, Mr Kerley said the centre was currently in the design process.
Depending on the interest and amount of tenants, the centre would be completed in three stages.
Mr Kerley said there have also been discussions about developing a TAFE on-site.
“The plan is to develop a complete food TAFE. It will be about the full gamut of growing, process, packaging, and logistics,” he said.
“The whole thing will be surrounding sale distribution. The industry is crying out for this sort of support.”
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan has been assisting the facilitation of the centre and said the centre would be extremely valuable for the Dandenong community.
“I think this centre will be enormous for employment opportunities, training, and its links to local secondary schools,” he said.
“It will be a highly sophisticated distribution centre, providing high quality fruit and vegies to large marketplaces, such as Coles and Safeway.”
Distribution from the centre is expected to begin in late 2011 or early 2012.