29 November 2017

Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam has welcomed today’s announcement of the sale of the Edith Creek milk processing site to Dutch Mill (Australia) Pty Ltd.

“It is a real thrill to welcome and thank Dutch Mill Australia for their exciting news in rescuing Edith Creek,” Mayor Quilliam said.

Dutch Mill group of Thailand is a privately held processor and marketer of milk and milk products throughout Asia.

Mayor Quilliam said the local subsidiary, Dutch Mill (Australia) Pty Ltd, had acquired six dairy farms in the Circular Head region that are all operated by local share farmers.

“Dutch Mill has been active in the area for the past three years, purchasing a number of dairy farms, to build their base,” he said. 

“I have met the Chairman of Dutch Mill Thailand (Mr Thirayuth Chaisawangwong) on a number of occasions and I can say he is a special man with a large vision and a deep social conviction.”

Mayor Quilliam said the decision from Dutch Mill to invest in Circular Head processing, would prove to be a watershed day for the area.

“Dutch Mill are a very large Thai company with reach to all ASEAN countries claiming a present daily reach to 30 million people,” he said. 

“The companies’ consumers are greater than the population of Australia. This is the sort of market we have longed for; direct access of local Tasmanian milk to the expanding population of Asia.

“I am aware that Dutch Mill have the necessary markets for a large part of Circular Head’s milk production.

“At present they buy large quantities of milk powder from New Zealand to augment their dairy factories in Thailand.”

Mayor Quilliam said the plans for Edith Creek were not yet known, but was confident the change of ownership would bring great wealth to the Circular Head area. 

“The next five years in dairying promises to be exceptional, and together with Cape Grim beef, I believe Circular Head’s best days are ahead of us,” he said.

“The recent news from Saputo and Fonterra add to the exciting prospects for dairy farmers, after a few years of struggle.

“I would also like to acknowledge the State Government for their work in establishing the steering committee and their encouragement of the investment.”

It is expected the plant will reopen in the second quarter of 2018.