Mr Dinnie was retrenched from the paper mill in 2006. He was picked up by Manildra, while Mr Liddicoat transferred from one section of Manildra Starches to the facility’s ethanol plant.

Both of the men’s jobs are a result of the $200 million expansion currently under way.

Mr Liddicoat, who has worked for the company for almost 10 years, moved across to the ethanol production side in readiness for the expansion.

Mr Dinnie said seeing the buildings going up was giving staff a sense of confidence in the future.

Minister for Lands Tony Kelly and Kiama MP Matt Brown paid a visit to the site yesterday for a tour with Manildra chairman Dick Honan.

Mr Honan, who had just returned from a trip to China, the world’s third largest producer of ethanol, said now he had full approval for expansion of the Bomaderry site he hoped to see it producing 300 million litres of ethanol annually by the second quarter of 2010.

Mr Kelly said the Manildra plant employed around 250 people and the expansion would secure a further 25 new permanent positions with about 150 jobs during the construction phase.

Mr Brown said the expanded Manildra plant would save approximately 130,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

“The recent developments at Manildra and Port Kembla are proof that the South Coast of New South Wales is the place to invest in the renewable fuels industry,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Kelly was expected to visit Nowra’s jail site today.