By Lauren Henry

A $441-million, 24-hour frozen potato production facility creating 245 jobs is planned for Dooen.

Farm Frites Australia is seeking planning and environmental approvals to establish a factory at the Wimmera Agriculture and Logistics, WAL, Hub.

The company, established in 2016, produces Australian-grown frozen chips and potato products for restaurants, pubs and takeaway businesses, including KFC and Hungry Jacks.

After a nationwide search, Farm Frites selected a 30-hectare Freight Terminal Road site for its first Australian production facility. 

It previously imported its products from The Netherlands, Belgium and Poland.

In a letter to stakeholders, Farm Frites Australia general manager Kieran Prestidge said the Dooen site was the ‘perfect place’.

“We know it’s not potato growing country – but it’s perfectly located in the middle of the best growing regions in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales,” he said.

“It’s got a proud agricultural history, and excellent connections to road and rail networks.”

Mr Prestidge said the development was subject to approvals by the State Government, Horsham Rural City Council and the Environment Protection Authority.

“We’re thrilled to be making this investment in Dooen and in the Wimmera and excited to become a long-term, trusted member of this proud agricultural region,” he said.

Farm Frites representatives were at the field days yesterday, meeting with stakeholders and providing information to the public from the council stand.

The processing facility is set to create 245 jobs for local workers, providing training and career opportunities.

The jobs will be not only on the factory floor but in administration, management, maintenance and sales.

Construction of the facility, set to create 750 jobs, is planned to begin late this year or early 2026, with production to begin in early 2027.

The facility will include unloading and storage areas for potatoes; a closed conveyor for transporting potatoes from storage to the factory; a production line that takes raw, unwashed potatoes and makes the finished, frozen products shipped to customers; an internal road network for light and heavy vehicles; and associated waste, water and monitoring equipment. 

It is understood Horsham Rural City Council supports the project, and will amend the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal, WIFT, Precinct Master Plan to allow manufacturing of this scale on the site.

People can visit www.farmfrites.com.au/projects for more information.

The entire March 5, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!