A $14.5 million investment in SunRice’s new manufacturing infrastructure at Leeton has been welcomed by Federal Member for Farrer David Farley.

Chair of SunRice Group, John Bradford, welcomed the support, acknowledging Mr Farley’s work that has enabled the announcement by the Federal Government.

“David has been critical to this announcement and has worked in the background tirelessly representing SunRice and his constituents here,” Mr Bradford said.

“He underpinned this grant and I acknowledge the work he has done and thank him for it.”

The federal government’s investment, announced on 7 October, will see SunRice match the funding to establish a new rice cake manufacturing facility in Leeton.

It comes weeks after the company announced it would be cutting hours and jobs at both its Leeton and Deniliquin sites due to low rice yields as a result of low water allocations.

Mr Farley has been advocating in Parliament for investment in the industry, specifically water.

“It’s a great start but we still need productive water allocations, and that is something I’m going to continue to work tirelessly to get,” he said.

“Despite the fact that majority of the job cuts occurred at the Deniliquin mill, it appears this funding won’t extend to that part of the electorate.

“The reality is that water allocations have flow-on effects. We weren’t asking for funding, we were asking for water so the whole SunRice network could benefit.

“Water means crops, crops mean production, production means product on the supermarket shelves,” Mr Farley said.

“Address water and everything grows from there.”

Mr Bradford said the investment will help strengthen value-added food manufacturing in Leeton and create more opportunities from the rice grown by Australian growers.

“Today’s announcement is an important step, but the long-term success of our industry also depends on growers having the conditions to keep producing rice,” he said.

“If we can get good allocations, if the minister can strategically allow some water, it will be very important for food security in this region.”