Corangamite Shire visits Fonterra Cobden to strengthen partnership
Members of the Corangamite Shire recently visited Fonterra Cobden’s operations to gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day business and economic contribution it makes to the local community.
The behind-the-scenes tour was an opportunity for Council members and staff to experience the cutting-edge technology that helps drive Fonterra’s operations, as well as the expert team that create Australian icons such as Western Star butter.
Leading the tour, Fonterra’s Regional Operations Manager, Nick Hayes, said that Fonterra was proud of the positive contribution the local operations made to the region.
“There is a certain type of magic that happens behind the big silver walls at Fonterra Cobden that we are proud of. As well as producing the highest quality butter, cream, fresh milk and milk powders, we contribute around $300 million annually to the local economy,” Mr Hayes said.
“With around 300 people working at the site, alongside more than 100 dairy farmers in the local region, we get enormous satisfaction knowing that our carefully created dairy products are enjoyed by millions of people across Australia.
“The Fonterra Cobden operations utilise the best technology available, including robotics and automation to reduce manual handling and improve efficiency.
Our team are experts in their fields, and with a continuous improvement focus, they have improved production efficiency by 9% over the past financial year,” Mr Hayes said.
Speaking of the tour, Corangamite Shire Mayor, Kate Makin, said the tour was a great opportunity to increase the Council’s understanding of the scope and importance of Fonterra Cobden’s role in the region.
“We’ve seen firsthand how Fonterra Cobden operates and gained a greater understanding of their role in our local economy and community,” Mayor Makin said.
“The visit also underscored the strong partnership that exists between Fonterra and the Council,” she said.