The Andrews Labor Government today announced a $50,000 funding boost for a spring water export project that will create 15 jobs at Dunnstown near Ballarat.
In addition to the Government’s investment, Cottonwood Springs will also put $600,000 towards expanding its water bottling facility.
Cottonwood Springs has been supplying spring water for the domestic market for more than 40 years from the spring at its historic Dunnstown site, which was once a whiskey distillery.
The company began exporting water through the contract packaging of bag-in-box water products for the Chinese market, but has been limited by infrastructure to efficiently produce products in this format.
Thanks to the Government’s investment, Cottonwood Springs will now be able to supply the Shanghai and Jiangsu province markets where high-quality imported spring and mineral waters are highly sought after.
Cottonwood Springs’ investment in specialised bag-in-box water filling and packaging plant and equipment will allow for greater flexibility in the packaging size and carton design to service niche markets, and will reduce Cottonwood’s filling and packaging costs.
The company’s investment includes new plant and equipment for water filling and packaging in the bag-in-box format for export, and a warehouse expansion.
The project will create 15 new jobs over the next three years and generate annual exports of $1.5 million.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“This project will add $1.5 million to the local economy every year through additional exports, and create 15 much needed jobs for Dunnstown.”
“Our funding will help Cottonwood Springs secure its future in Dunnstown – which is a vote of confidence in regional Victoria as a place to operate a booming export business.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020