Silver Fern Farms employees have been laid off from the company's Fairton plant, near Ashburton. Timaru's economic development agency, and Timaru mayor Damon Odey, say there are jobs for them in South Canterbury.

Laid-off Silver Fern Farms (SFF) workers are being wooed by Timaru's economic development agency, which says more people are needed in the food processing and manufacturing industries.

SFF announced on Wednesday that its plant at Fairton, just outside Ashburton, would be closed. It said it would pay redundancy to the 370 staff affected and offer jobs at its other meat processing plants.

Aoraki Development operations manager Di Hay said the agency was already in touch with the Meat Workers Union and Silver Fern Farms.

MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/FAIRFAX NZ Aoraki Development chief executive Nigel Davenport has been in touch with the Meatworkers Union regarding making former Silver Fern Farms employees aware of the opportunities in Timaru.

"It may be that as a neighbouring district we can offer some opportunities for employment that are within an easy commutable distance from Ashburton District," she said.

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"Aoraki Development has been in discussions with both [SFF] and the Meat Workers Union to assess the most appropriate way to provide such opportunities to these Fairton workers.

"We are aware that a couple of our local businesses have already likewise been in touch with the Meat Workers Union as well, which is great," Hay said.

She said there was a demand for both unskilled workers and highly skilled, experienced professionals in the Timaru District.

Timaru mayor Damon Odey agreed, saying there was "no doubt" there was high demand for workers in Timaru, with the unemployment rate in the area below the national average.

For instance Fonterra's new $240 million mozzarella factory, the third Fonterra plant to be established at Clandeboye near Temuka, would come online soon and would generate more than 100 jobs.

Workers would not have to leave their homes in Ashburton and could commute to work, perhaps by bus.

"It could be a good outcome for all involved," he said.

Meat Workers Union Canterbury president Bill Watt confirmed he had been in touch with Aoraki Development and said next week a "career expo", organised by SFF, would be held in Ashburton for the Fairton workers so employers could "show off their wares".

Fonterra Clandeboye operations manager Steve McKnight said Fonterra was working with "the guys up in Ashburton" and would have a presence at the career day.

The company had already held a successful recruitment day for the new mozzarella plant, but Fonterra was still keen to advertise other opportunities available at the Clandeboye site.

The Inland Revenue Department and the Ministry of Social Development were already on hand to provide advice to the employees, Watt said.

The expo was planned with the Fairton workers in mind, but anyone else interested was welcome to attend.

South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wendy Smith said it would be a matter of exploring exactly where opportunities for work existed, and matching individuals to the jobs that were available.

Comment has been sought from SFF.

Alliance Group general manager Kerry Stevens said the group had also been in touch with SFF.

"We currently have a number of vacancies at our Smithfield plant," Stevens said.