Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 21 – 25, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading.

5) Federal, SA governments tip in an extra $275 million for Whyalla steelworks as sales process continues

The federal and South Australian governments have announced an additional $275 million in funding to support operations, workers and suppliers at the Whyalla Steelworks as the sales process continues.

KordaMentha were appointed as administrators in February, with the state and federal governments announcing support totalling $2.4 billion for the site soon after.

This was described as coming in “three distinct parts”, comprising $100 million in immediate on-the-ground support, $384 million for stabilising the steelworks and $1.9 billion for investing in the site’s future.

4) Commonwealth awards $16.9 million in contracts for counter-drone tech

The federal government has awarded $16.9 million in contracts to 11 vendors, five of them Australian, to rapidly deliver counter-drone technologies.

According to a statement from defence industry minister Pat Conroy on Thursday, the “rolling wave of contracts” is part of the LAND 156 program announced four months ago.

LAND 156 will see “some of the world’s most capable threat detectors and drone-defeating platforms” be rapidly introduced into service by the Australian Defence Force, said Conroy, including “use of high energy laser (HEL), RF jamming and kinetic countermeasure effectors” to neutralise drone threats.

3) Alter Steel signs technology and equipment agreement with Danieli for $750 million Queensland steel mill project

Alter Steel has finalised its contract with Italian engineering firm Danieli to supply the technology and equipment for its $750 million steel mill in Pinkenba, Queensland, with the down payment now made to secure delivery.

When complete, the facility will produce 500,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel products annually to meet Queensland’s growing construction demand using 100 per cent local scrap.

The mill will be the first steelmaking facility in Australia to deliver wire rod, hot-rolled mesh, spooled coil and bar directly from a single site, supporting faster delivery, reduced handling and streamlined fabrication.

2) Green hydrogen project reaches financial close in NSW

A green hydrogen and ammonia project in regional New South Wales has reached financial close, with construction set to begin in October, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project is a joint venture between Hiringa Energy, Sundown Pastoral Company and the NSW Government. The facility will be located near Moree, adjacent to Sundown’s Wathagar cotton ginning facility.

The plant will produce up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually, displacing fossil fuel-based nitrogen fertilisers and removing up to 17,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year. The facility will also supply approximately 224 tonnes of green hydrogen per annum for direct use.

1) Cadbury’s biggest global facility now calls Truganina home after $130 million investment

Victoria’s food manufacturing sector has received a major boost with the official opening of Mondelēz International’s new state-of-the-art National Distribution Centre in Truganina.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson joined Mondelēz executives to open what the company described as its most advanced facility in the world.

The 47,000 square metre high-tech facility increases storage capacity by nearly 60 per cent and enables the processing of more than 450 million products each year, including household favourites like Cadbury Dairy Milk, The Natural Confectionery Company and Olina’s Bakehouse.

Picture: credit Alter Steel