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$80 Million Olive Grove and Jobs Hub Planned for Waikerie in Regional SA
Leipzig Australia has unveiled plans for an $80 million olive grove and adjoining business precinct near Waikerie in South Australia’s Riverland, in a project set to deliver hundreds of regional jobs and position the state as a major player in premium olive oil production.
Major olive grove investment
- The company will develop “Waikerie Grove”, a 1000-hectare site that is expected to become South Australia’s largest single-location olive grove.
- Plans include planting about 357,000 olive trees, with projected production of around 2.8 million litres of olive oil each year once the grove reaches full maturity.
Jobs and economic impact
- The grove itself is forecast to create around 20 full-time positions and up to 70 seasonal roles during peak periods such as harvest.
- An associated industrial precinct, “Waikerie Park”, is projected to support approximately 346 ongoing full-time jobs and generate about $38.4 million a year in economic activity if approved.
Waikerie Park business precinct
- Leipzig Australia has asked for about 300 hectares of nearby land to be rezoned to allow for a new employment and agribusiness hub called Waikerie Park.
- Concept plans for the precinct include an olive-crushing plant and space for complementary enterprises such as an abattoir, solar farm and plant nursery, designed to create a vertically integrated regional food and energy hub.
Long-term supply and water security
- Experienced processor Diana Olive Oil has been engaged to manage the grove, supported by a 30-year supply agreement with an ASX-listed distributor to underpin long-term demand for the oil.
- To secure irrigation, Leipzig Australia proposes a 10–13 kilometre pipeline capable of pumping about 900 litres of water per second from the River Murray to the site, which the company says is critical for the project’s long-term viability.
Next steps for the region
- Chief executive Frank Vounasis said the grove will proceed regardless of whether the rezoning for Waikerie Park is ultimately approved, describing the investment as a “really good opportunity” for the region’s long-term planning.
- A second 600-hectare plantation is under consideration if Waikerie Grove proves successful, while the employment precinct proposal is now set to move through community consultation and state government assessment processes.
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