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‘Currently, the factory is flooded’: Shepparton FoodShare will be closed until further notice

By Patrick Morrow

Oct 16, 2022

Uncertain: Shepparton FoodShare doesn’t know when it will be able to open the factory after being impacted by flooding. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Shepparton FoodShare executive officer Glenn Peric said the organisation doesn’t know when it will be able to open the factory as it is inundated with flood waters currently.

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“Currently, the factory is flooded, and we don’t have access to the factory, so at this stage, we will not be open until the water recedes, which could be up to a week,” Mr Peric said.

Mr Peric said they had elevated all the food as high as possible and said the fresh produce would be affected.

“Before the waters came, we elevated all of our frozen food as best as possible off the floor, and I think our fresh produce, which is not a lot, will expire,” he said.

“We will be unable to assist currently, but once the (Mooroopna) causeway is open and we can get into the factory to assess the damage, once we have done that, then we can work and help with the recovery effort.”

Mr Peric said the recovery effort would be in conjunction with Greater Shepparton City Council.

Mr Peric expects the demand for food to be high given the closure of supermarkets across the Greater Shepparton area due to the flooding.

“We will work with the council in the recovery effort when it is safe to do so, and I imagine the recovery effort will be large,” he said.

“It is a day-by-day situation and (we’re) having meetings daily, and we will jump into action to help with the recovery effort as people will not have access to food considering the flooding situation around the Shepparton region”.