Mars Australia has announced it will invest $52 million into the expansion of its Ballarat plant in a bid to better capatalise on export markets.
The expansion will focus on its Maltesers, primary bar and bite size production lines and the investment will fund new technologies and innovative products and processes to help the company boost productivity and develop new markets.
The Victorian Coalition Government is contributing $2 million to the expansion to help fund energy and water upgrades and production line upgrades through its Regional Growth Fund and Industries for Today and Tomorrow Program.
According to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, the Mars upgrades will reduce energy consumption at the plant by 29 per cent and reduce water consumption by around 42 per cent. He also said lower operating costs would help secure the jobs of the plant's workers and contractors and generate more than 100 new jobs during the construction and fit-out stage.
"The energy and water upgrades will include pipe and plant insulation, stormwater capture and storage, wastewater treatment upgrades, refrigeration systems upgrades and installation of solar panels,” Baillieu said.
According to the Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade, Richard Dalla-Riva, Mars had injected more than $145 million a year into the Victorian economy and this expansion project would provide Mars with the opportunity for further growth.
“This investment is in line with the Coalition Government's manufacturing strategy which focuses on helping companies boost productivity and develop new markets through new technologies and innovative processes and products,” Dalla-Riva said.
