On-farm abattoir creates new jobs in Central Queensland

An on-farm boutique abattoir established by a family-owned pastoral company will create over 80 new jobs, with support from the Palaszczuk government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.

Signature OnFarm, part of the Angus Pastoral Company, will build a $27.9 million abattoir on its Sondella station, 125 km north-west of Moranbah, Queensland.

The small-scale facility will be export accredited and capable of servicing up to 200 head of cattle a day when fully operational. The Angus Pastoral Company is a privately owned, fourth-generation cattle breeding operation, dating back to 1960. The company is a significant supplier of beef, running 35,000 cattle across four properties on 400,000 acres in Central Queensland.

“Due to the property’s relatively remote location, the on-farm abattoir project will also include the construction of a workers village to cater for up to 70 employees, including abattoir workers and other support staff,” said Cameron Dick, Minister for State Development and Manufacturing.

“The expansion is a great example of the innovative job-creating projects that the Palaszczuk government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund is designed to assist. We are committed to ensuring the benefits from Queensland’s continued economic growth are felt in regional and rural communities right across the state, not just in the big centres,” said Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries.

Alongside supplying the domestic market, the Angus Pastoral Company has experienced increasing demand for its beef products under its Signature brands for the past 13 years. This understanding of export markets will potentially assist the company’s expansion plans. The on-farm facility will minimise the need for live cattle to be transported interstate for specialist processing services approximately 1250 km away.

“At Signature Beef we pride ourselves on our quality, and having the abattoir just 500 m from the feedlot will improve animal welfare, resulting in a superior finished product,” said Blair Angus, co-owner and Manager of Angus Pastoral Company.

Signature OnFarm will install equipment and use specialised processing techniques in the facility to enhance the product’s traceability and provenance. This will also create an engaged and higher skilled workforce. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in a year.

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