APRIL 15, 2015 \ WYNDHAM.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU FEBRUARY 11, 2015 \ WYNDHAM.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
news ++ SPORT sport ++ THE THE WEST’S WEST’S BEST BEST PROPERTY PROPERTy GUIDE guide NEWS U N D e R l I G H T S T H E B I G C AT F I G H T U N D e R l I G H T S T H E B I G C AT F I G H T
VFL
WERRIBEE FOOTBALL CLUB
2015
(Mark Smith)
’THE BIG CAT FIGHT’
Revheads’ time to shine
v THE BIG CAT FIGHT
Georgia Chircop gets a feel for her father’s 1928 Chevy tourer, which will be among the hundreds of muscle, vintage and classic cars on display at the second annual Cruzin Knights’ Car Club Show ‘N’ Shine at Presidents Park in Wyndham Vale on February 22. The show will also feature hot roads, custom models and motorbikes, along with music, trade stands and children’s entertainment. The event supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation and entry is by gold coin donation. ■ Full story, page 14
BIG CATzone FIGHT’ Jobs plan for’THE farm By Cameron Tait
PLAyInG For THE
More than 4000 jobs could be created under a plan for a 205-hectare greenhouse farming precinct on Wyndham’s outskirts. Developers claim the precinct could produce more than half the produce currently grown at Werribee South. As reported by Star Weekly, Dutch officials last month inspected Woodhouse Station on Ballan Road, between Wyndham Vale and Eynesbury, with developer Jacland planning a range of greenhouse sites from five to 20 hectares in size.
Dutch Consul-General Willem Cosijn said there was a “real possibility” these sites would be taken up by relocating investors and growers from the Netherlands. Committee for Wyndham chief executive Chris Potaris said the project had the potential to create thousands of jobs and a new industry for the region. Jacland project manager Chris Quinn said the area was selected after a feasibility study conducted by one of Australia’s leading hydroponics experts, Graeme Smith. Mr Smith’s study evaluated a number of factors including climate, sun exposure, water
V v CUP
access and proximity to transport. Mr Quinn said a planning permit for clearing the land had been lodged with Wyndham council, but individual growers would need to submit their own construction permits. “The proposed precinct could replace 60 per cent of the food currently being produced at the Werribee South food bowl, an area under continued threat from urban encroachment,” Mr Quinn said. “Aside from local employment, food has successfully been used overseas as a theme to design communities and towns, through commercial operations being linked to
the residential areas, through food-based community areas, such as farm gate cafes and community gardens. “Greenhouses create more resilient farming techniques to more extreme climate and weather patterns,” he said. “[They are] more efficient and can produce 10 times the amount of food per hectare when compared to broad-acre farming.” Mr Quinn said leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, capsicums and cucumbers could potentially be grown in the precinct. Development work could begin within 12 to 24 months, he said.
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