Visy is to invest Aus$700 million on an expansion of its Queensland recycling and manufacturing operations.

Under the plan, the company will invest $500 million to build a new glass food and beverage container recycling and manufacturing facility in Yatala; a new $150 million corrugated box factory at Hemmant; and invest $48 million in major upgrades to the company’s material recovery facility (MRF) on Gibson Island.

“This is the largest investment Visy has ever made in Queensland,” said Mr Pratt, “and is part of my pledge to invest $2 billion in Australia over the decade."

“I commend Premier Palaszczuk and her Government for its leadership in support of Australian manufacturing. This $700 million investment confirms the Government’s economic plan to grow the State’s economy and create advanced manufacturing jobs is working. Under Premier Palaszczuk’s leadership, Queensland has become a global powerhouse for manufacturing.”

Visy will relocate its current glass re-manufacturing operations from South Brisbane to Yatala, expected in 2025, paving the way for the site along the Brisbane River to be used as the International Broadcasting Centre for the 2032 Olympic Games.

The projects will create over 900 jobs in construction, and support 300 green collar, remanufacturing jobs once operational.

Mr Pratt said the state of the art factory will help towards increasing the recycled content in Visy’s glass packaging to 70%, reduce landfill and reduce the use of natural resources by using the most modern energy efficient manufacturing technology available.

The facility, which will produce about 1 billion glass containers a year, will support Queensland’s world class, iconic beverage manufacturers.

www.visy.com.au

Image: Queensland glass manufacturing jobs protected and Olympic broadcasting site secured, (l-r) Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Visy co-owners Heloise Pratt, Fiona Geminder, Treasurer Cameron Dick, Visy General Manager Innovation and Corporate Affairs Richard Macchiesi