ONE of Australia’s leading agri-food businesses is re-establishing an office in Tamworth more than a decade after it closed its doors.
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GrainCorp has lodged a development application with Tamworth Regional Council for an office in Taminda and has started advertising a number of jobs to fill its new division.
Almost 15 years ago, in mid-2004, GrainCorp shut down its Tamworth office and relocated staff to its Narrabri office.
However, GrainCorp’s Nick Chambers, who will be heading up the new office, said the company wanted to get its decision makers closer to its customers.
“Tamworth is a great regional hub and a growing community with fantastic infrastructure in place,” Mr Chambers said.
“The key decision was trying to get our management and administration parts in one regional hub, to provide a superior service to our growers and customers.”
An office on the corner of Jewry and Wirraway streets, opposite the Tamworth Jockey Club, is halfway through a $167,000 fit out, according to documents lodge with council.
“We’ll be able to centre a lot of our northern Australia business out of that office space,” Mr Chambers said.
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Initially there will be 26 roles in the office, with some staff relocating from Sydney and regional offices in Dubbo, Narrabri and Moree.
“We’re bringing city-based roles back into regional areas again to be better aligned with our customers, closer to them, and provide a better service,” Mr Chambers said.
Mr Chambers said there would be three to five jobs up for grabs, with more to come next year.
While it’s been a tough year in the agriculture industry as NSW farmers battle the ongoing drought, Mr Chambers said the decision to open a branch in Tamworth was “a long-term move” that would align the company with the future needs of growers.
“This is a really positive move to get everyone in one spot,” he said.
“It’s going to mean a really powerful regional hub from both a decision making point of view and a customer point of view.”
The office renovations should be completed early next year, with the first lot of staff relocating after the Tamworth Country Music Festival.