Fire destroyed the beef processor’s O’Connor premises in November 2009 but the business overcame enormous challenges to transform its Osborne Park property - formerly cold storage facilities - into a state-of-the-art processing centre.
Mr Redman said the investment signalled a profitable and sustainable beef industry.
“This is a good day for the State’s beef industry, it’s a win for business, jobs, customers, farmers and the broader West Australian economy,” he said.
“I commend Western Meat Packers’ commitment to the industry. It would have been so easy to walk away after the fire but instead they were operating, albeit at limited capacity, just three months later and kept 250 jobs in place.
“This investment would boost WA’s $500million a year beef sector, create an additional 30 jobs and give access to export markets after the business was awarded a hard-to-obtain US listing.
“Farmers also benefit, with long-term supply contracts offering direction and security in a profitable industry,” the Minister said.
“The State Government is committed to assisting this vital industry to cut through red tape and access emerging markets with the help of the WA Beef Council, which I launched almost a year ago.”
The expanded Osborne Park facility incorporates a freezer complex, boning room and cold stores.
Western Meat Packers Group was established in 1983 by Rod and Shana Russell and has grown from a small family business to a major player in the State’s meat industry.
Mr Redman also welcomed Retail Ready Mince, which is a new local beef product for WA consumers resulting from a partnership between Western Meat Packers and Coles.
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