Norco resumes exports following Northern Rivers floods

Exports have resumed from dairy company Norco following a disruption caused by the 2022 Northern Rivers floods.

Norco’s Lismore site was flooded in February 2022 and reopened in November last year. 

According to a statement from federal agricultural minister Murray Watt on Wednesday, the first international shipment from the Lismore factory since then is currently en route to Japan and will arrive this month. 

It represents approximately 20,000 tonnes of dairy products, including tubs of ice-cream – which left Brisbane on March 10.

“International markets love Australian dairy, and a lot of livelihoods around the Northern Rivers and South East Queensland rely on Norco, so this first shipment after two years is an exciting step forward,” said Watt.

“The Commonwealth and NSW Governments collectively contributed nearly $55 million to Norco’s flood recovery and reopening efforts, to protect local jobs, boost resilience and re-establish factory operations, so to see them kicking goals after the floods is heartening.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, the federal and state assistance helped rebuild the factory with a new flood-proof design and technologies, able “to defend floodwaters up to 15 metres high”.

Picture: credit National Emergency Management Agency

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