Boutique abattoir development proposed for Oura, near Wagga

A $10.9m livestock facility which would process almost 800 tonnes of meat per year and hire 12 staff during its operation has been proposed a stone’s throw away from Wagga.

A $10m boutique abattoir has been proposed for Oura, which will consist of four buildings to process several hundred tonnes of meat per year.

A multimillion “boutique” abattoir with the capacity to process hundreds of tonnes of meat per year just outside of Wagga has been pitched to the local council.

Okeview Pastoral Company’s Eringoarrah Pty Ltd submitted the development application for the $10.9m small scale livestock processing facility for Oura, 20 minutes east of Wagga.

In application documents submitted in December, the proposed facility would include an abattoir, an office, a workshop and storm room, along with an electrical building.

The developer stated in its application the abattoir would be complemented by their farm already on site, reducing the need for livestock to be carted offsite and enhancing the welfare of the animals.

“It is an aim of Eringoarrah that livestock processed at the facility will be walked to the facility from a nearby location on the farm, negating the need for transport by vehicle and removing the stress for the animals associated with that process,” the document said.

Renders of the proposed abattoir near Wagga.

Australian company Eringoarrah owns several properties which covers more than 7747 hectares between townships in Oura and Wantabadgery in the Riverina.

Documents stated jobs will be created through its construction and operation phases and will have a “minimal potential for conflict” with surrounding rural land.

Bird’s eye view of the site.

Once the facility is open it will employ 10 full-time workers and two part-time workers.

The project was estimated to have a total capacity of 1903 per year of live weight, which equates to a total production capacity of 798 tonnes per year of meat.

The site currently.

Through its weekly operations it will accommodate 60 cattle, 50 lambs and 20 pigs, with the facility providing slaughtering, carcass chilling, de-boning, packing, carton chilling and carton freezing.

Parent company Okeview Pastoral stated its goal was to offer the community a “new experience” in livestock production.

“The people of the Riverina deserve the opportunity to source it direct from a local farm, and to know exactly where it was born, raised, and processed,” the application said.

“The facility’s footprint will be smaller and process at much lower volumes in comparison to most commercial abattoirs.”

In its application, the developer stated its aim was to ensure quality of life for their animals, to share an authentic local product with the community and prove that meat could be raised in a way which enhances the soil and environment.