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Social Impact Assessment for on-site accommodation for meat processing workers in Cootamundra

By 4 December 2024No Comments

JSA has been engaged by the Australian Meat Group (AMG) to prepare a Social Impact Assessment and Plan of Management for proposed on-site manufactured homes for workers ancillary to the existing meat processing facility in Cootamundra, which has been upgraded and seeking approval to further expand its capacity.

There is a labour shortage in the meat industry. International workers hired under the Australian Government Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are already working at the Cootamundra facility to fill critical local labour gap in the meat industry. Expansion of the facility requires an increase in the facility workforce, that will be met with PALM scheme workers. A dire shortage of rental accommodation across the Cootamundra locality has created an urgent need for suitable accommodation for the existing workers, as well as to meet the housing needs of incoming workforce that will allow the facility to expand its capacity.

The proposed accommodation will be a village of three bedroom fully-equipped manufactured/relocatable homes with common indoor and outdoor areas and facilities. Each three-bedroom manufactured home will provide accommodation for a maximum of four workers. The Applicant will provide workers residing in the accommodation with regular shuttle bus transport to and from Cootamundra to meet their shopping, service, recreational and social needs.