AFTER operating for more than 40 years, the North Maclean mushroom farm will close and 160 people will lose their jobs next month.
In a crushing blow to the local workforce, Costa Group announced the Mount Lindesay Highway site would shut down on Friday, December 6.
Costa Group corporate affairs manager, Michael Toby, said the mushroom farm was no longer economically viable and the decision to close was not taken lightly.
"We are conscious of the fact it has been an important provider of employment for the local community and many of those people live in the local community," Mr Toby said.
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"We recognise the outstanding job they have done over many years producing quality mushrooms.
"It was a difficult decision, but one we had to make in the current climate. Our other farms are not as old as this site which has ongoing maintance and capital costs."
Mr Toby said Costa invested a significant sum of money in a more modern site in South Australia, which influenced the decision.
Logan MP Linus Power said he was gutted.
"I know there were a lot of hard workers at the mushroom farm ... this is no reflection on the hard work they did at North Maclean," he said.
"I encourage any people involved to approach my office and we will see what we can do to help them move on to new jobs."
Mr Toby said talks would be held with employees about job opportunities with the company.
"We do have other sites which are not in the local area but in other parts of Queensland," he said.
"Between now and (the) closing (date) we are talking to those staff who are interested in pursuing work with Costa."