Plains Producer $1.40
Wednesday May 18, 2011
STAR OF THE NORTH
Megafert in administration FERTILISER distributor Megafert – a well-known supplier to the local farming region – and importer Interfert Australia are in voluntary administration, owing around $25 million. Directors of Interfert Australia Pty Ltd and Megafert Pty Ltd have appointed Stephen Duncan and Chris Powell of KordaMentha as administrators over the trading entities of the Adelaide-based fertiliser importer and distributor. The operations of Interfert and Megafert are predominantly in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Balaklava farmer and businessman Peter
Evans is a director of the companies, with John Simper. Annual turnover was more than $100 million in the 2009-2010 financial year. The group’s creditors are owed around $25 million. Mr Powell said the Interfert and Megafert
businesses would continue to operate while the joint voluntary administrators assessed the current operations and their future potential. “Our current priority is to investigate a restructuring and refinancing of the businesses and to work on maintaining supplies and services to existing customers across the group’s extensive rural network,” he said. The first meeting of creditors will be held on May 24 in Adelaide. Directors said the companies had suffered along with other fertiliser importers in 2009 when the international price of fertiliser fell dramatically from more than US$1280 to US$400 per tonne in the space of a few weeks.
“The international fertiliser market effectively froze as a consequence of the Global Financial Crisis and the negative impact was severe on fertiliser businesses holding stock,” directors said. “The board decided to place the trading entities of the group in voluntary administration after it became apparent an overseas provider of banking arrangements was unable to meet its commitment to Interfert and Megafert. “Those funding arrangements, which failed to materialise, had included the fertiliser business establishing new banking facilities late in 2010. Funds were to be advanced in January in time for the 2011 fertiliser season.”
Shamus cycle trail
Plan to honour memory
A memorial cycling trail has been suggested as a community initiative to honour respected Halbury cyclist Shamus Liptrot, who died last week. It is envisaged the trail’s first stage would follow the now disused railway corridor, from Balaklava to Halbury, then possibly link with the Riesling Trail near Auburn. Another option would be to continue following the rail corridor to Hoyleton, then join the popular Clare Valley tourist walking/cycling trail via roads through the Skilly Hills. The ambitious project has been suggested by Balaklava Area Committee (BAC) which would work with Wakefield Regional Council (WRC) to access local, state and Federal grant funding to create the trail. Malcolm Liptrot, father of Shamus, said the cycling trail would be a “wonderful legacy” to allow Shamus’s name to be remembered by members of the local community. BAC chairman, Terry Williams, described the ‘Shamus Liptrot Cycling Trail’
as a wonderful way to honour a young man who made such an impact on our community. “Shamus often was known to cycle from Halbury to all parts of the district, – often alone, but also with friends. It just seems right to do this,” he said. “The trail not only would honour Shamus, it would become a tourism drawcard and a
healthy lifestyle attraction. “This is no small project. It will take some time, require a lot of planning and work by various community leaders. We should get started as soon as possible.”
SHAMUS shows the start of the cycling trail in Balaklava, looking east along the old railway corridor towards Halbury, adjoining the Lions trail.
n CONTINUED PAGE 4
all your Shamus LiptROT condolence messages – SEE PAGE 28
DONALDSON EVERYTHING’S
AFTERMARKET FILTERS Whether it’s air, fuel, oil, or hydraulic, Donaldson will have what you need. You can be confident that these aftermarket filters are of the highest quality – they are not the industry leaders in aftermarket filters for nothing. Using the best technology Donaldson filters will protect your equipment, giving you peace of mind.And now with their heavy-duty 4WD filter kits designed specifically for diesel engines, you can rest assured that your investment is in the best hands. Your dealer has them all. Contact them now.
R.H. SCHULZ PTY LTD
6 Belvidere Road, Saddleworth SA 5413
Ph: 8847 4112, 0428 474 123
BETTER
BETTER…
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
✓New Car Selection ✓Service ❏ ❏ ✓Parts Selection ❏✓Used Car Range ❏ ✓People ✓Pricing ❏ ❏ Ring now and we’ll come to you
CLARE VALLEY TOYOTA 380 Main North Road CLARE Phone 8842 2566