Montague on track with new Victorian fruit processing facility

Long establish fruit brand, Montague, is building the facility at Narre Warren North on a 12-hectare plot of land at the boundary of Lysterfield Park and Horswood Road.

The complex will process more than 260 million pieces of fruit annually which will be distributed to markets across Australia and the world.

According to a Montague release, the facility will also include a retail space, apple and stonefruit sales, public picking orchard, seasonal exhibition space, cafe, bike shop and open space lawns open to the public.

The internal and external concrete slabs were completed in September with the main building structure and roof completed in early this month.

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The project is planned to launch in phases with the build of the 53,200m2 fruit processing facility set to complete at the end of this year.

Installation of packing equipment commenced in mid-September, meaning the new stonefruit grader will be operational from mid-January 2021 and all apple production lines fully operational from mid-March 2021, in time for next year's apple season.

The Montague hospitality development will be the first public access amenity created by Montague.

Mongatue chief innovation officer, Rowan Little, said consumer research shows Australian's want to know where their food comes from and how it is handled before reaching the retail stores.

"From February 2021, visitors can join us to learn first-hand about fruit production while enjoying a coffee and pick some apples for themselves," he said.

THE development showcases local construction materials including recycled timber from the original barns that were located on the property and features natural products with distinctive earthy tones to reflect the surroundings flora from the recreational reserve and orchards.

The name of the café and public orchard will be unveiled in November.

The café and retail space will be positioned at the western end of Horswood Road adjacent to the main entrance to Lysterfield park, and is set to transform the experience for park users into a tremendous tourist precinct.

The facility has also been created to support the local community and provide open access (bookings essential) to educational, behind the scenes insights into 21st century fruit growing.

The facility will offer a picturesque 3ha pick-your-own apple and stone fruit orchard with more than 2000 trees of speciality varieties for visitors to try.

Visitors to the site will also be able to tour the expanded fruit processing facility and see how Australian grown fruit is packed and distributed to supermarkets and greengrocers.

THE project has progressed throughout the year despite being impacted by the stage four restriction in Victoria, with construction operating at a limited capacity since August 5.

However, the Victorian State Government recognised Montague as critical and essential providers of fresh fruit to Australians and granted special permission for construction to resume at an increased capacity.

Montague implemented a High-Risk COVID-Safe plan and continue to adhere to all ongoing directions, recommendations and guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding recommended measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission and ensure a safe working environment for everybody working on the project.

"We are grateful to the State and Federal Governments for granting us special permission to increase and facilitate construction from September 13," Mr Little said.

"This will mean that our facility will be fully operational in time for the apple harvest season next year, with improved capacity to process and pack the next crop and provide much needed fruit to the Victorian and broader Australians consumers.

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