Alpine Opinion

Former Alpine Shire business set for huge expansion – in Albury!

Hmm, just to prove that I’m not entirely anti-Myrtleford and totally unsympathetic to the plight of our neighbouring town following the loss of some key industries, I bring you this little story from the Border Mail :

New owners plan to double workforce
THE new owner of the Mountain H2O water bottling plant, Asahi, has revealed ambitious plans to increase the business’ annual turnover to $90million and almost double its Albury-based workforce.

The Japanese company formally completed its acquisition of the business yesterday and confirmed its proposal to open a third source of natural spring water in Buffalo River Road, south of Myrtleford.

Mountain H2O had sales of $31.4 million last financial year, but Asahi Holdings managing director of non-alcoholic business David Beguely said in Albury yesterday the figure could increase to between $80 million and $90 million under the new owner’s plans.

The present workforce could almost double from 34 to 60 in the next 12 months.

“There is tremendous capability here,” Mr Beguely said. “There is a fantastic source of water and great manufacturing capability. There is fantastic growth potential which we can export faster than the previous owners.”

… the company, which started in 2000 at Kancoona, … now sources water from Kancoona and Buffalo Creek with the development application for the third site at Buffalo River Road going on public exhibition yesterday.

My comment:

Hark your minds back to 2009 when the Alpine council – yes, the current lot – refused H2O’s application to expand its Kancoona plant in the Alpine Shire, forcing the rapidly expanding company and local employer to look at relocating. And where did they first want to move to? That’s right, to Myrtleford, into the empty and huge former TCV building. You know, the one that the growers were desperately seeking to sell or lease out. And what happened? That’s right, the Alpine council stuffed around so much with the application that it went beyond the time for H2O to act. So they accepted an offer from Albury and moved there.

Now they’re about to double in size. And double the workforce.

And don’t think I’m making this up. As I wrote at the time, a number of prominent Myrtleford residents & business people were also moved to express their anger over the council’s ineptness and lack of action that saw them lose yet another golden opportunity. They wrote scathing attacks in the Border Mail, like this one, and no doubt they’ll be even more furious at their local councillors, following this latest news.

And, as if they needed another kick in the guts, all Myrtleford will get out of this is another extraction plant and further reduction of their aquifer and water table. Talk about a double whammy.

It should be an interesting council election later this year. Especially in Myrtleford. The Myrtleford voters’ love affair with Jan Vonarx & Nino Mautone is probably over and I’d suggest this time (if the pair run) the voters will be waiting to give them the boot. Any other candidate though, who says “Jobs for Myrtleford“, stands a good chance.

Ray Dyer & goat - there’s your next slogan.

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