THE first step is about to be taken towards attracting a meat processing plant to Emerald.
The Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) and Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) will this week put out to tender a feasibility study to identify the need, viability and market opportunities of such a project.
CHDC General Manager Sandra Hobbs says while a meat processing plant in the heart of Queensland’s beef country is a compelling idea, a thorough investigation is essential to attracting investment.
“This could offer major economic benefits to local producers and suppliers, and generate employment, all of which have a positive knock-on effect to the broader community, so it’s vital we do our homework to give it the best possible chance of happening,” she said.
Mayor Peter Maguire says the feasibility study will allow potential investors to make an informed, evidence-based decision.
“There has been a lot of interest from the agricultural community in a meatworks for the region and now is a great time to begin a formal process to seriously look at the idea,” Councillor Maguire said.
The study will address a detailed list of factors including costs, location, supply, labour, transport and supply chain capability and integration, environmental impacts, infrastructure, and regional economic benefit.
The Mayor said that progressing with the feasibility study demonstrates council’s confidence in the long term sustainability of the region, in particular the agricultural sector, and Council’s commitment to building a diverse economy.
“It’s also compatible with other projects that are being conceptualised for the region, including the multimodal transport hub,” he said.
“This investigation aligns with the Central Highlands Community Plan 2022 and fits with CHDC’s mission to support sustainable regional economic development and investment attraction,” Ms Hobbs said.
“It is also compatible with the State Government’s Agriculture Strategy, which aims to double Queensland’s production by 2040.”
The feasibility study is expected to begin in October 2014 and be completed in January 2015.
