Patience urged on Innisfail’s abattoir

ALICIA NALLY Council Division 5 representative Jeff Baines said the new project seemed to be “on the backburner” but discussions with venture capitalists had been held.

“The council is absolutely still supportive. We are for anything we can do to help keep industry flowing,” he said.

AgForce representative Alex Stubbs said cattle producers and the community needed to exercise patience about the project.

“At this stage I’ve heard no negativity around it but it is still a work in progress. It takes time for these sort of deals to go through,” he said.

“Another competitor in the market place always keeps processes or buyers at the sharp end of the point. We’re supportive, but also highly understanding of the complexities, particularly with looking into the development of overseas markets which are new.

“As much as we’d like to see things happen yesterday, we have to be patient.”

Despite a drop in export prices for beef, Mr Stubbs believed the industry was still strong.

“Generally, we’re going to see a greater demand in particular for grass-fed beef and that will provide opportunities to meet niche markets overseas and at the same time maintain fair prices,” Mr Stubbs said.

State Treasurer Curtis Pitt reiterated his backing for the project.

“A new industry like a meatworks will provide hundreds of new jobs for local people and catalyse economic growth in communities right across the Cassowary Coast region,” he said.