Food manufacturing and distribution hub for Qld's Scenic Rim

A 10-year project is planned to transform Scenic Rim with a new food manufacturing and distribution hub.

The Scenic Rim Agricultural Industrial Precinct (SRAIP) is now a step closer after the Queensland Government’s Coordinator-General recommended it proceed, subject to conditions.

Expanding the operations of Queensland-owned vegetable farming and marketing company Kalfresh, the precinct would unlock new market opportunities for local farmers and create new employment opportunities in the Scenic Rim local government area.

The SRAIP development proposal includes establishing a renewable energy facility that will convert food and agricultural waste into green power, green gas and a bio-fertiliser.

“The initial stages of the development involve the construction of two vegetable processing facilities, the anaerobic digestion facility, roads and utility installation and connections. Following this, a composting facility would be developed producing up to 50,000 tonnes per annum of compost,” said Queensland’s Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner.

“During operations, the project’s significant food manufacturing capacity is anticipated to benefit local farmers and businesses by enhancing supply chain benefits and ensuring consistent, reliable market demand.

“Once fully developed, there is an estimated contribution of over $140 million to the Scenic Rim economy per year in gross value added.”

Circular economy aspects of the project include the redirection of waste from landfill to create electricity and fertiliser and the reuse of treated industrial wastewater for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Kalfresh anticipates the facility would generate the project’s full power needs, with residual power fed back into the local electricity grid.

Queensland’s Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace, said: “A unique feature of the project is the inclusion of a facility which converts organic agricultural waste into renewable energy.

“The proposed facility would also provide a new source of fertiliser for the local farming community to use in crop production adding value to what would normally end up as waste.”

Representing an investment of $291 million, the precinct is set to create 641 direct jobs over the 10-year construction period and an additional 475 direct jobs annually during operation.

According to Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman, “The precinct will provide a home for food and beverage value-adding businesses in the farming region, which means they’re more efficient and able to compete with foreign imports.”

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