The transformation of existing factory infrastructure in Shoalhaven to manufacture hand sanitiser to help fight COVID-19 is the NSW Government’s latest fast-tracked project.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said as the Planning System Acceleration Program was a key part of the Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan, it was fitting that the Shoalhaven Starches hand sanitiser proposal was fast-tracked.
“We are doing everything we can to protect the health and wellbeing of our communities as we battle through the pandemic, and the planning system is continuing to get projects out the door to keep people in jobs and the economy moving,” Mr Stokes said.
“The Program has allowed construction to move forward on a range of transformative projects in a number of sectors – housing, transport, IT, education and commericial. While it was borne out of the pandemic, the aim is to make this program ‘business as usual’.”
The Bomaderry factory employs 300 people and has been in operation since 1979 processing wheat to produce flour, gluten, glucose, starch and ethanol. The modifications that have been approved will enable the factory to produce hand sanitiser and hand sanitiser grade ethanol.
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said this approval will inject $7.8 million into the local economy and create 24 new jobs by producing 120 megalitres of hand sanitiser grade ethanol and 1.5 megalitres of hand sanitiser.
“This is an excellent example of a company adapting their business activities during the pandemic to meet demand,” Mr Ward said.
“Innovation like this will not only help to keep the community safe, it helps to keep the business profitable and keep people in the Shoalhaven employed.”
This approval is part of Tranche 5 of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program, which has determined almost 90 projects worth more than $25 billion, creating opportunities for more than 50,000 jobs , 25,000 homes and 400 hectares of public space.
More information on the Shoalhaven hand sanitiser project.
