He has just finished his second contract at Costa Tomato Farm.

Sebastian is from Mamago in Vanuatu and he arrived in Guyra with his friend Dick Tanrua for their first working contract from January to July last year.

They returned for a second contract in January this year and Dick, like Sebastian, is also about to return to his homeland in the Pacific.

He said the weather was colder than he was used to, and workers sometimes had limited transport options outside working hours, but he had enjoyed his time in this region which he saw as an opportunity.

"I like the work. It has helped my family and I will be able to return home and build my own house," Sebastian said.

"My wages are good. I earn about $25 an hour, they take out some deductions for rent, transport, injury insurance, but what is left is mine."

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Sebastian said wages earned in Guyra helped with village improvements at home, and men were saving for their own future by being able to build their own homes in Vanuatu.

He said there are about 40 men from Vanuatu with workers from Fiji, Solomon Islands and New Zealand working at the Guyra tomato farm, and it was their friendships and mobile phones that really helped sustain what could be a difficult time away from home.

Workers travel to and from work on a bus in the mornings and afternoons, they eat together, slept and then went back to work.

He did mention their accommodation in Guyra consisted of eight men to a residence at $100 per week each. He said the houses were comfortable, but cold and the men sometimes prefered to stay inside near the gas heaters.

Sebastian said most of the workers learnt of work in Australia through word of mouth.

In August last year, Costa Group announced it was building a new $67 million, 10-hectare nursery.

The new facility is planned to start growing snacking and cocktail tomato varieties by next year, creating 150 more jobs in the process.

Guyra chamber of commerce president Hans Hietbrink welcomed the news, but said many jobs would be filled from outside the town.

"A lot of the jobs are filled by people from overseas," he said.

"But in saying that, it presupposes that there are people in Guyra who a) want to work, and b) are suitable to work at the tomato farm."