Meat Processing Plant For The Queensland Central Highlands

The changing landscape of the resource sector isn’t stopping Queensland’s Central Highlands region from forging ahead to build its economy as it turns to the beef industry to drive jobs growth.

The Central Highlands Regional Council recently announced a partnership with a consortium of investors including a respected Australian-owned supplier of meat products to build a processing plant near Emerald.

The council floated a proposal to establish a meat processing plant early this year, calling for expressions of interest from potential investors to coincide with the highly successful Beef Expo in Rockhampton.

According to Mayor Councillor Peter Maguire, ‘The investment appetite was keen and interest came from domestic and international quarters.’

‘We had a number of enquiries that we’ve been assessing and evaluating for the past few months and we’re pleased to finally announce we’ve chosen a preferred project partner.’

Andrew Gatenby of Channel Capital, who represents the investor consortium, said the aim is to build the most efficient grass-fed beef processing facility in Australia using local labour and supporting local growers— many of which they do business with already.

‘Our principal consortium partner is looking to expand its current volumes and views the establishment of the facility as a means of ensuring quality supply is available to meet demand from domestic and export customers,’ Mr Gatenby said.

‘In addition, this facility will better service the company’s existing and future supply chain partners, many of whom operate in Central Queensland.’

The consortium will be responsible for the design, construction and operation of the plant and will engage with potential funding partners and local producers to establish and underwrite the throughput at the facility.

‘From initial projections we expect the plant will employ around 200 full-time jobs at a value of around $24 million being available to the local economy. Then there’s the regional spend via producers, utilities, maintenance, training and so forth,’ Mr Gatenby commented.

Cr Maguire said ‘it’s a win all round’.

‘This region needs to embrace ideas and initiative to drive growth in the agricultural sector and we’ve been more than fortunate to find a partnering company that values the family farm, the environment and the benefits of regional diversification.