Jimbour Beef and Bacon's new meat processing facility will bring jobs to Western Downs thanks to support from the Palaszczuk Government's $150 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said expanding the existing business would result in a new meatworks facility, boosting annual production capacity from 3000 to 20,000 tonnes.
"This funding will help a family-owned Queensland business meet rising domestic demand and tap into new export markets" Mr Dick said.
"Jimbour Beef and Bacon has operated at peak capacity for more than a decade, but recently they've been unable to respond to the sustained growth of the Australian pork industry. That's all set to change now, with the support of our government.
"The existing workforce of 17 will more than triple, with the addition of 35 full-time jobs over the next three-to-four years.
"Meanwhile, construction will support around 30 full-time jobs during the four-year development period."
Owners Lincoln and Belinda Waldock welcomed the Jobs and Regional Growth Fund support and have advised the development would be delivered in three stages following commencement of construction in April 2019.
"The government support will enable us to significantly bring forward the overall project, allowing us to expand to full processing capacity much earlier than originally planned," Mr Waldock said.
"The existing facility will be retained as an operating abattoir during construction, to ensure minimal disruption to our supply chain stakeholders.
"This will mean a seamless transition for our operations and, most importantly, we'll retain our existing workforce in full employment throughout the process.
"When construction of the new facility is complete, the old abattoir may be decommissioned or used just as an additional cold store facility."
Mr Dick said the new facility would be built and licensed to international standards and export specifications, enabling supply to both domestic and overseas markets.
"Having a second export accredited pork processing facility in Queensland will provide significant value to our pork industry and increase business confidence," he said.
"This expansion will act as a catalyst for further on-farm investment and growth in the local industry, with major economic and employment benefits, particularly within the Dalby region."
Learn more about the Queensland Government's Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
