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States’ Trading Supervisory Board and the Policy & Resources Committee will now carry out a review of the scope, specification, and the potential funding options for a new dairy following a successful amendment yesterday.
The Committee will report back to the States within the next 12 months to make recommendations on whether to move the project into the delivery portfolio.
Proposer Deputy Peter Roffey, also President of the STSB, said the amendment was not “far-reaching” and was purely about investigating options for the facility.
He added that the project is years overdue, highlighting that the amendments seconder, President of P&R Deputy Peter Ferbrache, previously argued strongly in favour of the project when he was President of the STSB.
“It’s even more urgent today… the current facility is at the end of its life and need to be supported ASAP… time is of the essence here,” said Deputy Roffey.
He suggested that approximately £1m in savings could be realised with a new dairy site, which could help Guernsey Dairy to deliver a profit.
Pictured: Deputy Peter Roffey says the dairy building, and its equipment, need urgent replacement.
Several deputies, whilst indicating their support for the dairy industry, expressed concern with the potential costs of the project.
Deputy Neil Inder said whilst the subject of Guernsey dairy is an “emotional” subject, he claimed “there will be a price point acceptable to the people in this island”.
Deputy Simon Fairclough said whist he would support the amendment, “a significant amount of time and money has been spent on this project already”.
The cost of the building was also an issue for Deputy Simon Vermeulen.
Deputy John Dyke went as far to question how “the most basic building” could cost tens of millions of pounds: “Somehow procurement have to be told… there shouldn’t be cost overruns."
But Deputy Peter Ferbrache said he trusted the STSB and rejected claims a new dairy could be delivered for a much cheaper price.
“I’m very interested to hear about building for £2m… just chucking out figures like that on the hoof is not responsible government,” he said.
He also said the current dairy site would be “ideal for use by HSC.”
Pictured: Deputy Peter Ferbrache said referring to random figures in the Assembly is irresponsible.
Deputy Lester Queripel supported the amendment and said: “We rely far too heavily on other jurisdictions for food and power.
“The dairy doesn’t have the tools needed for the job… that can’t go on forever… we can’t afford to keep kicking the milk can down the road.”
Deputy John Gollop claimed that “to have as much internal food production as we can is commendable and necessary,” as he called for the continuation of the dairy industry and its culture.
He also pointed to an upturn in milk consumption by consumers.
Deputy David de Lisle said a new facility is “integral to the success of the dairy industry,” and pointed out that butter has successfully entered the export market with £1m in revenue per annum being generated from these sales.
Pictured: Deputy Aidan Matthews would support the use of the current dairy site for health and social care purposes.
Multiple references were made to the suitability of the current diary site for future healthcare facilities. Deputy Aiden Matthews, who sits on HSC, echoed comments about the current site: “The location of the Dairy is ideal for HSC for very much needed purposes.”
Deputy Carl Meerveld agreed it would be useful as a site for “essential workers”.
In his closing remarks, Deputy Roffey rejected claims that surplus milk is currently being disposed: “There is no milk being poured down the drain… a small percentage of white water is disposed of," he said, referring to the excess product left over after the cream is extracted.
Deputy Roffey agreed that it “would be stupid not to use that site for health-related facilities".
Amendment 1 was carried by 32 votes to one. One deputy abstained and another five were absent.
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