November 8, 2016
Swickers will retain its current workforce and hopes to have its processing floor return to normal operations within a week, Sunpork Group CEO Dr Robert van Barneveld says.
More than 450 of Swickers’ 580 staff attended a briefing at Kingaroy Town Hall on Sunday night.
The meeting was called hastily in the wake of the disastrous fire on Sunday morning that destroyed the company’s boning room, chillers and export distribution centre.
Dr van Barneveld said the processing floor, value add facilities, offices, new warehouse chiller and dry goods store have not been affected although services to some of these sites had not yet been restored.
“It was crucial that we convene a meeting in the Kingaroy Town Hall so all staff had the opportunity to understand the situation and ask questions,” Dr van Barneveld said.
“More than 450 staff were in attendance and we advised them that we are committed to re-building the site and that our intention is to maintain our current workforce.”
Dr van Barneveld said the plan was to have the processing floor operational within a week, ensuring that all producers and processors have a destination for their pigs in the lead up to Christmas.
Short-term arrangements were being made for alternative processing in the coming week.
“We are also in discussions with other boning facilities to meet our needs until such time that our own facilities can be restored, and we will work with our staff to develop re-deployment plans in these facilities for the duration,” Dr van Barneveld said.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support being offered by the community, government, our staff, the pork industry and related industries at this time and the efforts of the emergency services on site.”
* * *
Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police, Senior Sergeant Duane Frank, said investigations into the cause of the fire were continuing on Monday.
Police forensic officers had been joined by QFES fire investigators on the scene.
“Certain areas of the damaged building still can’t be accessed because of debris and the heat,” he said.
Snr Sgt Frank reiterated that at this stage investigators were treating the cause of the fire as non-suspicious.
“The investigation will include the analysis of footage from CCTV cameras that were operating in the area of the building.”
* * *
Deputy Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington released a statement on Sunday night in relation to the fire:
“Today has been a long and very challenging day for the South Burnett and Swickers community after the devastating fire at our local meat processing facility.
“I would like to thank all emergency workers, fire, police, ambulance and the SES for their professionalism and hard work throughout the day and continuing through this evening.
“Our concern is always for our people and we have been blessed that no one has been injured in today’s fire.
“Swickers management has reassured staff this evening that they are working towards a plan to reopen as soon as possible, and I welcome SunPork’s stated commitment to rebuilding and continuing to be a major supporter of our region.
“A special thank you to management at the plant, particularly Linchon Hawks and Bec Humphrey, who have done a great job under very trying circumstances today to get information out to staff, and for organising tonight’s employee meeting – thank you Linchon and Bec.
“We are a strong community and I know we will all pull together to help one another. I offer my own personal support, and the full support of my electorate office, should anyone feel they need a helping hand at any stage.”
Related articles:
