$4 million to bolster horticulture research on Central Coast
The NSW Government has announced that $4 million has been set aside this financial year to develop a new horticulture research centre at Somersby on the Central Coast.
The allocation will pay for the first stage of a $9 million project to transfer 75 staff from Narara near Gosford to the Somersby site under the State Government’s Towards 2020 Primary Industries reinvestment initiative.
The Somersby centre will become the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ premier greenhouse horticulture centre, housing the National Centre for Greenhouse Horticulture and the full range of services currently located at Narara.
New purpose-built office accommodation for advisory, fisheries compliance management and research staff will be constructed on the 70 hectare site.
Plans are being drawn for laboratories for post harvest and market access research, entomology as well as greenhouse vegetable production and ornamentals research.
The tender process for the building of these facilities is to commence later this year.
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