BEGA Cheese has received timely assistance to fight rising energy bills.
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The words “carbon tax” were on everyone’s lips on Friday when it was announced the company would be awarded more than $280,000 to improve its energy efficiency and reduce pollution.
Funding was awarded under the Federal Government’s Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program, with AusIndustry to work with Bega Cheese in promoting the program and a more sustainable and efficient future.
For every $2 spent by Bega Cheese, the government will invest $1 towards refrigeration and lighting upgrade projects.
The projects include implementing variable fan speeds in cool rooms, improving the efficiency of chilled water and heat exchanger, and heating upgrades.
The announcement was made at the company’s Ridge St facility and dignitaries included Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly, AusIndustry regional manager for the Illawarra region Peter Masterson and Minister for Industry and Innovation Greg Combet.
The group was taken on a tour of the Ridge St facility by Bega Cheese CEO Aidan Coleman and site manager Sean Moran, where they looked at the various phases of Bega Cheese’s production.
Mr Combet, who is also the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, said he was impressed by the site.
“It is one of the most automated factories of its kind I have seen,” he said.
The clean energy funding will help reduce carbon intensity by a whopping 20.6 per cent, and the boost couldn’t have come at a better time.
On July 1, the Australian Government will introduce its carbon tax.
Mr Coleman said the company would invest over $560,000 into the project, taking the tally up to $848,706.
Mr Coleman said the funding would “assist us to be competitive” and make energy efficient projects “more feasible”.
“It will continue to offset the rising costs of energy,” he said.
Mr Coleman said Bega Cheese had enjoyed a long and proven association with the region and beyond.
The company produces more than 20,000 tonnes of its product annually across five sites and Mr Coleman said it was a “continually changing business environment”.
Mr Combet said the government was making a “modest contribution” to help Bega Cheese continue its success in the future.
“It will make a significant improvement to refrigeration, lighting and water management at Bega Cheese,” Mr Combet said.
“It will significantly reduce energy consumption and cut costs to help the company be competitive.”
Mr Combet praised the work of Mr Kelly, saying he “genuinely works very hard for this region”.
“This is an extremely important achievement,” he said.
Mr Kelly said Bega Cheese was “close to my heart”, with his great-great-grandfather founding the co-operative and family members working there.
“This region stands to gain enormously from this package,” he said.
“It’s a really exciting announcement and continues the government’s long association with Bega Cheese.”
Mr Kelly described the company as a “great corporate citizen” in regard to clean energy.
Mr Kelly said an emphasis would be placed on machinery and technology to reduce carbon emissions.
“The carbon impact is only as great you allow it to be,” he said.
According to Mr Masterson, the announcement was “fantastic news for Bega”, allowing the company to maintain its competitiveness.
Mr Masterson said Bega Cheese was the first business on the South Coast to benefit from the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment program.
He said AusIndustry wanted to get the message of clean energy out to the community.
If your business would like to take part in the program, contact Peter Masterson on (02) 4254 5534 or peter.masterson@innovation.gov.au.
