A plan to build a $100million abattoir will change the face of Goondiwindi.
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It will employ 380 fulltime employees when in full operation which will pump more than $11million into the community annually.
And the boon to the economy will begin even before that with hundreds of jobs on offer during the construction stage. It will be situated 12km east of Goondiwindi on the Cunningham Highway.
The company behind the plan, Fucheng International Abattoirs, believes its introduction to Goondiwindi will boost even more employment in agriculture, maintenance and repair industries, transport, building and business and financial services. In addition the abattoir will provide a “local destination” for cattle producers.
“Primarily, cattle will be sourced from Woodlands Farms, (the company’s own feedlot near Westmar) however there will be capacity to source cattle form the border rivers, Maranoa, Warrego and Balonne,” the company said.
The Goondiwindi Regional Council is expected to make a decision at either the next meeting on December 20 or in January.
“This is an exciting time for Goondiwindi and the region,” GRC Mayor , Cr Graeme Scheu said. “We believe we are are on the cusp of another agricultural growth boom in the economy and the social structure of the region. We are on the map and more and more people are beginning to take notice,” he said.
That means investors, which means money which means employment which means more people. But it also means challenges. The GRC has already had discussions with various government agencies investigating future needs and planning strategies for infrastructure.
More than 380 employees means families, says Cr Scheu. And while he believes many of those jobs would be taken up by locals the work opportunities will attract many from away.
Cr Scheu said the application proves business owners are looking at Goondiwindi as a viable option, we’ve got something that is making them confidant about doing business in the area. That’s gold and as a Council we have to keep fostering that confidence,” he said. “And we have to keep planning.”
