The Guyra Horticultural Facility consists of a technologically advanced glass house, designed for environmental sustainability, and 365 days per year production of truss tomatoes. The 20 hectare glass house is constructed in the high altitude, high winter sunlight environment of Guyra with temperatures rarely exceeding 30 oC in summer, and is the largest enclosed horticultural facility in Australia. Guyra is approx half way between the major markets of Sydney and Brisbane, allowing the products to be available to the customers within 24 hours of harvesting.  The civil works included a balanced cut and fill exercise that relocated and compacted more than 470,000 m3 of material to produce more than 30 hectares of building platform and a 75 megalitre clean water storage facility, with no material being carted off site.  20 mm of rain will collect 4 megalitres from the roof, with an estimated 162 megalitres of rain water being collected annually. The rain water is supplemented with spring water from the site when required. The site is self sufficient for water supply with no water being taken from the town supply since December 08. Water drawn from the storage facility is UV and heat sterilized prior to being used for irrigation and fertigation processes.
A computer controlled venting system responds to external variables such as wind, temperature and humidity. The internal temperature is maintained between 16-26 oC. A fogging system maintains internal humidity and summer temperatures. Coal fired boilers are used for water heating, butane fired boilers are also used for water heating, the heat from both is piped around under the plants, and the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the butane boiler is used for plant growth. Variable speed drives are used on pumps and motors to reduce energy consumption.
The glass house facility uses 95% less pesticide, 90% less water, and 80% less fertilizer than is used to produce field tomatoes.
This Resource Efficiency of this project has been highlighted from the beginning of construction, through completion, to the now fully operational facility.