A new western livestock rail freight service to the Oakey Beef abattoir will help reduce road traffic, unlock economic development opportunities and make it easier to transport cattle to markets, AgForce said.
AgForce Cattle President Bim Struss said it was a great day for Queensland beef producers from as far west as Quilpie with the Oakey Beef abattoir accepting cattle by the rail freight service this morning for the first time in 23 years.
“Oakey Beef and AgForce have been lobbying the government for years for rail access and it’s great to see it finally pay off,” Mr Struss said.
“The Queensland Government’s $2.5 million investment to upgrade rail sidings to connect the facility to the western line will generate significant economic benefits within Oakey and surrounding areas, delivering more regional jobs and bolstering confidence in the region.
“This will also mean that Oakey Beef will be able to undertake a $60 million plant expansion and double its output, having great flow-on effects for Queensland beef producers.”
Mr Struss said the Queensland Government’s $32.4 million investment in the Toowoomba Range Clearance Upgrade would help to boost regional freight capacity between the Darling Downs and the Port of Brisbane.
“The combination of these two new rail links could take up to 80 per cent of Oakey Beef’s freight off the road, unlocking economic development opportunities and making it easier to transport cattle to markets,” he said.
“The potential for this is not just limited to the beef processing sector, there is scope for other agricultural commodities as well, such as grains direct to the port.
“Transport is 30% of the cost of production so any efficiencies we can create in this section of the supply chain will greatly benefit producers.”
