SunRice chief executive officer Rob Gordon said over the coming months the Coleambally Mill operation would move from three shifts, five days per week, to one 10-hour shift, four days per week; while one of the two Deniliquin Mills would be scaled back from 24 hours, seven days per week, to 24 hours, five days per week.

The second Mill at Deniliquin will remain at full capacity, operating 24 hours, seven days a week.

Mr Gordon said while the smaller crop meant a reduction in the level of production required at the  Coleambally and Deniliquin sites, there would be no redundancies as a result of the changes. The 12 affected Coleambally Mill team members will be offered employment in SunRice’s Leeton plants, where milling operations remain at full capacity, operating 24 hours, seven days per week.

The affected Deniliquin team members will be retained in other roles on site.

“SunRice remains committed to the Coleambally and Deniliquin communities and is very pleased to be able to offer all affected permanent staff ongoing employment to ensure their experience and skills are retained,” said Mr Gordon. “To enable this to happen, a small number of contractors will be offered casual employment when their existing contract terms end.

“Despite the smaller crop this year, we are pleased to be able to offer ongoing job security in this way,” he added.