SunRice Group had been operating an animal feed mill since 2019. Photo: Google Maps.
Murrumbidgee mayor Ruth McRae has expressed her disappointment at SunRice Group’s sudden decision to close its Coleambally livestock feed mill as of Monday (1 September).
The food producing giant, headquartered in Leeton, closed its rice mill in Coleambally in 2014. But five years later, its subsidiary Coprice re-purposed the facility and turned it into a ruminant feed mill.
Until this week, the site had been converting raw agricultural ingredients like grains into animal feed for livestock.
“Following a comprehensive review of its operations, the SunRice Group has made the difficult decision to close its CopRice Blending Plant at the Coleambally site in NSW, effective 1 September 2025,” a SunRice spokesperson said.
“The decision relates only to the Blending Plant and the wider Coleambally site will continue to operate, including for rice paddy storage through the Australian Grain Storage (AGS) facilities.
“Four employees are directly impacted and the SunRice Group will seek to redeploy them within the business where possible. Those who cannot be redeployed will receive their full entitlements, severance payments and access to a range of support services.”
Cr McRae said that while only four employees were impacted directly, the closure would also affect contractors, truck drivers and businesses connected to the mill.
It also represents the loss of a significant buyer for feed grains such as barley, lupins and corn, as well as by-products like almond hulls, broken rice and grape marc.
“It’s another blow for our regional community following on from the Jerilderie and Darlington Point Bendigo Bank agencies that will also close in October,” Cr McRae said.
“We will continue to advocate for our residents and businesses to attract and retain vital services and industry to the area.”
Cr McRae believed that drought and seasonal conditions were factors responsible for the closure, with large parts of southern Australia currently drought-affected.
SunRice Group says it remains a major employer in the Riverina region, with a significant operational footprint and a workforce of about 600 employees.
