WHILE one central Queensland meat processing plant began work today, the second has confirmed it will be closed for another four weeks.
JBS Swift held a meeting for its employees at midday today in Rockhampton, telling them the plant would re-open.
“We got word today from our principal contractors who have engaged the site that we are looking at four weeks from Monday to resume work, and that’s weather permitted,” plant manager Bill Sauer told Queensland Country Life after the meeting.
“A lot of people were relieved.”
Teys Australia opened today for kills and full operation will begin on Monday.
Meanwhile, the damage JBS Swift sustained from Cyclone Marcia was substantial and contractors will be “working as hard as possible to get it going”, Mr Sauer said.
There was damage to the roof and windows and the fact the plant is several stories high has made it difficult to access in some areas.
“We needed to get hydraulic lifts to get in and work on some of the windows and roofing… and we’ve had to get scaffolding around the whole of the perimeter to work on, so it’s all logistically difficult, but we are working through it,” he said.
Mr Sauer said he was confident it would be opening – weather permitting.
“There will be contractors for months afterwards, but our principal contractors have put a plan together that we will be open four weeks from Monday.”
Cattle were being redirected to Dinmore and Townsville and JBS Swift’s livestock managers were working with graziers to book them in, he said.
The plant is also working with its employees, redeploying them to plants from Townsville to Tasmania and working with those who do not wish to move from Rockhampton.
“Our employees are our number one priority and we’re trying to work through this.”
