JOE White Malting’s Lake Wendouree plant will close in late June, adding to Ballarat’s recent job woes.Parent company Viterra said difficult global malt trading conditions had forced the closure of the Gregory Street malt house, which is believed may affect up to 10 jobs.However, a company spokesperson said its Delacombe plant will continue to manufacture speciality malt products.“The conditions for trade in the global malt market continue to become more competitive and, as a result, only the most modern, efficient and strategically located malt plants can remain competitive,” the spokesperson said.“Viterra would like to acknowledge and thank the employees at the Lake Garden malt house for their hard work over the years.“We will be working closely with the affected employees through this process.”In the past week, IBM Australia refused to rule out plans to sack 120 Ballarat-based workers and Wendouree’s SEM Fire and Rescue staff were locked out of their Trewin Street premises.While a deal was made for SEM workers to return to work, 80 casual IBM workers are expected to lose their jobs in the next month due to a restructure of the firm’s client services division.Joe White Maltings was established in Ballarat in the 1850s goldrush and its Wendouree silos were a Ballarat landmark until they were demolished last year for a housing subdivision. The Lake Garden plant produces about 32,000 tonnes per annum of export malt for breweries, mainly in Vietnam, Thailand and Korea.A $2.2 million water recycling plant was turned on at the Lake Gardens malt house in 2009.Ballarat mayor Craig Fletcher said he was disappointed with the closure as it would affect not only the workers but their families and the whole community.“It highlights the tough nature of competing in a global economy and global market,” Cr Fletcher said.“It’s disappointing that it’s occurred.”Australian Manufactur-ing Workers Union official Colin Muir said the workers were currently negotiating redundancy packages.“But it doesn’t help the local economy and the local jobs market,” Mr Muir said.