Australia’s second largest feedlot enterprise is expanding its operations on the Darling Downs with a funding injection from the Palaszczuk Government’s $150 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said Mort & Co was set to become Australia’s most significant cattle feedlot with a job-creating and innovative $35 million expansion project at Grassdale, west of Toowoomba, that will help boost the premium food industry and meet rapidly growing international demand.
"The Darling Downs has long been known as Queensland’s food bowl, and the cattle production and meat processing sector is the region’s highest food value chain, worth more than $1 billion each year," he said.
"Mort & Co plans to increase the throughput of the Grassdale Feedlot by an additional 80,000 cattle per year, install a gas-fired power station, and build a world-class fertiliser manufacturing facility.
"This is great news for the Darling Downs, with 34 new long-term operational jobs to be created at Grassdale, and around 105 full-time equivalent jobs supported during the 18-month construction period.
"This expansion has the support of downstream meat processors who have indicated around 115 full-time equivalent jobs will be created at regional abattoirs.
"Our government’s $150 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund is helping businesses to flourish and tap into new markets, and Mort & Co’s expansion will deliver not only new jobs, but also substantial and enduring benefits to the region."
By installing a gas-fired power station on-site, Mort & Co will fulfil its own power requirements, providing the company with significant cost savings.
The new advanced manufacturing fertiliser facility will use innovative technologies to convert 60,000 tonnes of manure into high-value granulated fertiliser pellets with a potential retail value of more than $23 million per year.
"This process will provide feedlots with an environmental solution to waste issues, and it also has the potential to be adopted by the wider feedlot industry, resulting in significant economic and environmental benefits," Mr Dick said.
Mort & Co Managing Director Charles Mort said the company plans to start work immediately on the feedlot expansion, gas-fired power station and fertiliser plant.
"We have a long-standing track record of delivering industry best practice across the many facets of our business, and we are focused on ensuring a consistent supply of quality product for domestic and export beef markets," he said.
The $150 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund is designed to assist innovative regional projects like this that will have real impacts on local communities and create new jobs.
