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September 30, 2024
Land use changes behind freezing works cut
Adam Gifford
Posted On September 30, 2024
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Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says the proposed closure of Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant in Timaru is a system of wider adjustments through the economy.
Download AudioRegional Development Minister Shane Jones says the proposed closure of Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant in Timaru is a system of wider adjustments through the economy.
The plant employs about 600 staff.
Mr Jones says we’re seeing some manufacturing and industrial sites closing because of energy prices, but the Smithfield closure is more about land use changing in South Canterbury.
“That means various sheep farms in the past have now turned into dairy. Once you have land use changes it leads to reduction in the number of animals being processed in freezing works and over time the sector is having to rationalise,” he says.
Federated Farmers has also blamed a shift in land use from farming to forestry.
