Berry Boom

Afer starting out in dairy manufacturing around a decade ago, Robin and Karen Dornauf began dabbling in growing berries and Hillwood Berries was born.

A booming business now covering more than 40 hectares growing strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, Hillwood Berries has over 45 full time employees on board from the region while also employing over 350 seasonal workers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg joined Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer on a recent visit to the farm to inspect their expansion plans, including almost 15 new hectares set aside for additional crops. Tese plans were brought forward thanks to the Federal Government’s Instant Asset Write-Of and other business measures.

“Te expansion plans mean more jobs and more crucial investment in our local economy,” said Bridget Archer.

Hillwood Berries Managing Director Simon Dornauf said the Instant Asset Write-Of has been instrumental in enabling their business to undertake two major projects that otherwise would have been delayed, including investing $400,000 in solar panels.

“Te solar panels will provide 70 per cent of the power to our berry production,” Mr Dornauf said.

“A further $3.6 million will be spent in building additional infrastructure… enabling us to employ about 75 full time equivalents for that project.”

Under the new expansion, an additional 700,000 tonnes of strawberries will be grown bringing the total plants on the farm to an incredible two million.