Workers removing rubble from the demolition site at Swickers on Monday
Sunpork Group CEO Dr Robert van Barneveld

January 16, 2017

Traces of Swickers’ devastating November fire are slowly disappearing with demolition crews hard at work at the Kingaroy site.

Sunpork Group CEO Dr Robert van Barneveld told southburnett.com.au on Monday he expected the fire site to be totally cleared by mid-February.

He said work was also well underway on the rebuilding program.

“When the demolition is complete, we will start rebuilding almost immediately,” he said.

“We expect to complete the rebuild well within this calendar year.”

The boning room staff, who have been relocated into temporary accommodation at Wulkuraka near Ipswich, may also be coming home sooner than first expected.

“We are examining options for establishment of temporary facilities that may assist in getting boning room staff back to Kingaroy before the full re-build is complete,” Dr van Barneveld said.

Swickers’ original plans to build a new kill floor at the Kingaroy complex are also still moving forward.

“We are still progressing our plans to build a new kill floor on the site,” Dr van Barneveld said.

“This will be an enhancement of our existing kill floor and will allow us to increase the overall volumes that Swickers can process.

“If possible – and final approvals are received – we would like construction of the new kill floor to commence while the boning re-construction is underway.”

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FLASHBACK: The devastating November fire at Swickers … fortunately no one was injured but the boning room was destroyed

 

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