A regional South Australian town has been left fearing the unknown, with its largest employer planning to leave after more than a century.
Ice cream manufacturer Golden North announced yesterday it would move its operations from the mid-north town of Laura to Murray Bridge.
The sign on the way into Laura highlights its connection with Golden North. (ABC North and West: Viki Ntafillis)
Golden North managing director Dimi Kyriazis said the move to Murray Bridge, 275 kilometres away, was for better connections with its milk suppliers.
The company opened its Laura factory in 1923 and has about 80 staff at the site.
Meryl cafe and Laura Emporium owner Frank Bernhardt said Laura revolved around Golden North and its exit would be a blow to locals.
“It hasn’t been thought out very well, the way they’ve done it,” Mr Bernhardt said.
The Golden North ice cream factory in Laura will close next year. (ABC North and West SA: Declan Durrant)
“They should have talked to people in the town and let them know things aren’t going well, rather than just dropping a bomb.
“I understand it’s a business decision, but it doesn’t help Laura.”
Laura’s loss
Laura is a township of around 750 people, located a half-hour drive from Port Pirie and a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Adelaide.
Mr Bernhardt said his shop would survive the company’s move, but it would take away a big tourism drawcard.
“We call ourselves the Golden North outlet in Laura; we have every flavour,” he said.
Frank Bernhardt’s shop doubles as a place to learn about Golden North’s history. (ABC North and West: Viki Ntafillis)
“We try to give people a Golden North experience where they can watch a video, read about the history, and have a sample.
“We try and promote them, have signs everywhere and it’s just all for nought now.”
Golden North’s move will be completed in 12 months. The SA government says it will provide $1 million to support the town during the company’s transition.
Northern Areas Council Mayor Sue Scarman was shocked when she heard the move was final.
“They have spoken about moving several times previously, so we started to get used to them talking about it, but this time they’re going,” Ms Scarman said.
Sue Scarman says the Golden North factory is like “the furniture” in Laura. (ABC North and West: Viki Ntafillis)
“They are the furniture in the corner of our town, they’ve been here forever.
“There’s a big hole. Laura and Golden North are synonymous, but that will disappear and become history.”
Murray Bridge’s gain
Golden North will move into the former Beston Global Food premises in Murray Bridge.
Laura factory operations manager Rick Willis has lived in Laura for 18 years, and his wife also works at Golden North.
Rick Willis says he will move to the new factory at Murray Bridge. (ABC North and West: Viki Ntafillis)
“There was obviously a sadness because of what it’s going to do to Laura,” Mr Willis said.
“But from a business point of view, there was really only one option.
“It’s only getting harder to be located so far away from where all our ingredients come from, which is just the nature of where we are.”
Golden North will move to its new home in Murray Bridge over the next 12 months. (ABC North and West: Viki Ntafillis)
Golden North has said it will give priority to the workers at Laura if they want to make the move to Murray Bridge.
Murray Bridge dairy farmer Warren Doecke said the move was positive for the region’s dairy industry during a tough period.
Mr Doecke lost about 25 per cent of his milk income with the collapse of Beston Global Food last year.
Warren Doecke says farmers welcome the new business to the region. (ABC News: Josh Brine)
“We could have lived with Bestons if we’d have had a really good season, and we could have lived with drought if we got our money out of Bestons,” he said.
“To have another processor in the town is certainly a positive move.”
