Augusta will be the home of a new purpose built abalone processing facility, with the announcement of a $2.7 million construction contract awarded to South West firm, Big Ben Builders.
The construction will be a single-storey seafood and storage facility located at the Augusta Marina, and according to OGA Managing Director Brad Adams, would allow the company to keep up with demand for the ocean delicacy.
“We have insatiable global demand for our product, our current bottleneck processing is constrained, and this new facility will provide increased flexibility and production capacity and add further value to the business,” Mr Adams said.
Current production at the operation is constrained, with divers restricted to bringing in volumes that can be handled by the existing processing facilities.
“Boats arriving in the marina with the day’s harvest will be located within less than 100 meters from the processing facility.
“The benefits of this are translated into improved production processes, driven by reduced handling times between unloading of boats and processing and higher quality abalone, particularly with live abalone, as these can now be tanked in shorter time frames.”
OGA currently has the capacity to process up to 300 kilograms of live abalone per week from one tank. The new development will have the room to grow this capability to up to 7,500 kg of live abalone a week.
The company said the new facility was also expected to increase employment opportunities in the region.
“The new processing facility will increase employment and skills required to operate the facility within the local community.
“In addition to directly increasing local employment opportunities, indirect employment opportunities will be created through support services that will be required to support the new facility, such as maintenance and logistic services.
Based in Busselton, Big Ben Builders was selected from a group of eight businesses who put forward tenders for the project.
The company is now gearing up to employ more local trades before turning soil on the waterfront facility by the end of this year.
“We’re excited on so many levels to be working with Big Ben Builders - they delivered a cost-effective tender against 8 others,” said Mr Adams.
“They have in excess of 22 years’ experience in the region, considerable local experience and a reputation for completing projects ahead of schedule and have completed a number of similar sized projects for various government agencies across the region.
“Big Ben Builders is a regional business which fits with OGA’s philosophy of supporting south west businesses, who use workers from the local community.”
The new facility commitments are fully funded using existing cash reserves and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
