After being wiped out in Lismore’s biggest flood in living memory, the Norco Ice Cream factory reopened last Friday following a $100 million dollar rebuild.
Challenges faced during the rebuild included securing electrical equipment due to global supply chain shortages, but now the new ice cream factory is now up and running, producing delicious flavours from local dairy farmers to sell in supermarkets.
In addition to losing the ice cream factory in the devastating floods, Norco also lost two rural stores, the mill, and their head office was inundated.
Throughout these tough times, 128-year-old Norco still managed to post a profit of $682 million for 2022-23, up from $651 million last year.
Norco Chief Executive Officer Michael Hampton said the company was proud of its history and its future looks bright.
“Norco operates a number of businesses beyond just ice cream, all of which are in growth phases and performing well,” he said.
“A lot of our team members here did the clean-up job there’s been a lot of work that’s gone on over the last 18 months.
“This facility wouldn’t be where it is today without the generous help of the Australian government.”
Risking future floods by rebuilding in the same location on the Wilsons River saw the factory designed to be as flood proof as possible, featuring wider and stronger walls and a 650-kilogram door to protect the 18 large ice cream silos.
Critical electrical equipment has been stored on raised 15-metre-high mezzanine areas and every employee who wanted to return has been re-employed.
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said post flood there were times where it looked like the factory may not reopen.
“It was not acceptable that Norco not reopen,” he said.
“It took a lot of lobbying to get a grant to help them and I want to acknowledge Senator Bridget McKenzie who supported me to get the funding to help Norco rebuild.”
Mr Hogan said Norco’s connection with Lismore resulted in a $34.7 million anchor business support grant being provided by government for toward the rebuild.
“This is important for our community, for the people who work there and the dairy farmers who supply them,” he said.
“Norco have been part of the Lismore story for over 120 years, and it is a great show of confidence in Lismore this rebuild as happened.”
Lismore Mayor Steve Kreig congratulated the oldest and largest dairy co-operative in Australia for its perseverance to rebuild the facility.
“This moment marks a significant milestone in our community’s strength and commitment to back Lismore,” he said.
“Its reopening is not just a revival of a factory but a symbol of hope and perseverance for our entire community.”
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 29 November 2023.
