New abattoir to create 80 jobs
Operating under its Signature OnFarm brand, the business will build the $27.9m abattoir on its Sondella station, 125 kilometres north-west of Moranbah, with support from the government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
In addition to supplying the domestic market, the Angus Pastoral Company has been growing international demand for its premium beef products under its Signature brands for the past 13 years.
Angus Pastoral Company co-owner and manager Blair Angus said the on-farm abattoir will eliminate the need for live cattle to be transported interstate for specialist processing. “At Signature Beef we pride ourselves on our quality, and having the abattoir just 500m from the feedlot will improve animal welfare resulting in a superior finished product,” Angus said.
“Together with the installation of cutting-edge equipment, Signature OnFarm will use specialised processing techniques in the facility that will not only enhance the product’s traceability and provenance but will create a more engaged and higher skilled workforce.”
Minister for State Development and Manufacturing Cameron Dick said: “The state-of-the-art, small-scale facility will be export-accredited and will be capable of servicing up to 200 head of cattle a day when fully operational, allowing the company to meet its own high-quality, specialised processing requirements.
“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.”
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner added: “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."
