Following the announcement Cootamundra’s largest employer Manildra Meat Company would close, Ron Loiterton Real Estate Licensee in Charge Daryl Sedwick is remaining positive about the potential impact on the local real estate landscape.
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Having seen the closure and subsequent re-opening of the Cootamundra abattoir previously, Mr Sedgwick said he believes those workers who have lost their jobs will remain in town if at all possible.
“They may look to travel to other centres but will still base themselves in Cootamundra is my belief,” Mr Sedgwick said.
He said his initial reaction at the news of the closure last Friday was for the workers and he is hopeful that it will once again be viable for Manildra to process lambs in Cootamundra and the abattoir will re-open.
“Cootamundra is a close town which looks after its own,” Mr Sedgwick said.
“There may be some people who will re-locate but I don’t think it will be the preference for the majority; I don’t think it (Manildra’s closure) will create a lot of vacancies,” he continued.
He pointed to affordable housing as a positive reason to remain in town saying the average mortgage in Cootamundra is not as high as other centres such as Wagga or Yass.
Meanwhile, the Cootamundra Development Corporation (CDC), which also acts as a Centrelink agency, has been inundated with workers seeking assistance since the announcement Manildra would close.
Centrelink representatives have been onsite at the abattoir this week as workers prepare to be out of a job from Friday.
The CDC is supplementing this service from their Parker Street office, specifically helping to get people signed up and with the task of identifying themselves.
CDC chairman John Stephens confirmed that additional staff will be at the CDC next Monday, February 27 in anticipation of workers needing to use the Centrelink agency.
Furthermore, in order to facilitate and drive business forward in Cootamundra, the CDC has planned a business forum for Tuesday, March 14.
Shadow Minister for Small Business Jenny Aitchison, from the Maitland area, will attend the forum.
Given the blow to Cootamundra’s business landscape by the closure of Manildra, the forum is well-timed.
Manildra has confirmed they are not selling the plant and have committed to assessing the meat industry dynamics with the intention of processing again.
Other abattoirs around the country are putting their hand up to take on the sacked Manildra workers with Teys in Wagga, Thomas Foods in Tamworth and the Australian Lamb Company in Colac, South-Western Victoria advertising for various positions in the Cootamundra Herald classifieds.