AgForce Queensland, and Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland will use a transport forum in Rockhampton today to highlight priority projects for funding under the Northern Australia Beef Roads Program
Leo Neill-Ballantine, a Calliope beef producer, who heads up AgForce's transport committee said it was fitting that this meeting be held in Rockhampton which is Australia's beef capital.
"Unfortunately it's become a running joke in our industry that you can get a man on the moon but not a road train into Rocky," Mr Neill-Ballantine said.
"Fixing the problem would save $775,000 per year and is just one area where we could reduce the cost to transport livestock.
"In the end it's passed on to the consumer with more than one third of the cost of the beef we eat spent on transport."
The Northern Australia Beef Roads Program, worth up to $100 million, will be invested exclusively in key beef supply chain corridors.
LTRAQ President David Scott said fixing last mile issues, in particular access for road trains to processors, was at the top of the list.
"Anything we can do to make transport more efficient and reliable will benefit those buying high-quality Queensland produce," Mr Scott said.
"We are pleased the see the Federal Government getting on to fund this commitment to sort out these last mile issues.
"We'll use this meeting to urge State Government and councils, who manage our road network, to get these project rolled out as soon as possible.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the roundtable would bring together leaders in the beef industry to help identify investment priorities for the Beef Roads Program.
“Australia's beef industry injects billions of dollars into the national economy and investing in key infrastructure to help make it more efficient will boost our national—and local—prosperity, Feedback from industry players is an essential part of getting the best result possible,” Mr Truss said.
“Transporting livestock to market in northern Australia involves both significant time and cost. Our competitiveness will be improved by putting dollars into infrastructure projects that reduce operating costs and improve reliability for freight operators.
“This will be the first of three roundtables held in northern Australia, with the remaining two to be held in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
“The Australian Government is committed to delivering the infrastructure industry needs and I am looking forward to the outcomes of these roundtables.”
Mr Truss said the Beef Roads Programme was one part of the Australian Government's investment in the northern Australia community.
“We are also investing $600 million towards a new Northern Australia roads programme, while the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will provide concessional loans for major infrastructure projects in the north,” he said.
“These significant investments will create jobs, improve productivity and connect small regional towns with the national transport network.”