The latest goFARM development is north of Kemps Rd, next to the Goulburn Valley Hwy. Map: Google
A new, $27 million development by the agricultural investment company, goFARM, is under way on 840 hectares north of Numurkah.
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The company is planning to convert the amalgamated dairy farms 6km north of Numurkah, straddling the Katunga-Picola Rd, into an almond plantation.
It joins the other major agricultural portfolio at Yalca and Katunga known as Sandmount Farms, taking the total area under development to 6000 hectares.
Sandmount Farms general manager Nick Raleigh said they were working on the Numurkah site in two stages and were hoping to plant out the trees mid-2024 and next year.
Dozens of people are being employed on the earthworks to prepare the site.
Sandmount Farms is now waiting on planning permit applications to be dealt with, after submitting the plan to Moira Shire Council on November 20.
Permission is being sought for the removal of about 25 paddock trees and the construction of a large dam.
The company is planning to buy offset credits from the Victorian Native Vegetation Credit Register to compensate for the loss of vegetation.
Mr Raleigh said the company was doing some earthworks on the site and preparatory work for the dam while waiting for the planning permission to come through.
The first harvest is expected on the Sandmount Katunga almond farm over the next few weeks.
The 58 Ml dam on the Katunga Sandmount farm. Permission is being sought to build a similar dam on the new development.
Photo by
geoff
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