Live cattle export facility and feedlot proposed by Woodstock Pastoral Services at Calcium

A live cattle export facility and feedlot with the capacity to hold up to 25,000 cows at a time has been proposed at Calcium.

A LIVE cattle export facility and feedlot with the capacity to hold up to 25,000 cows at a time has been proposed at Calcium.

The facility, owned by Woodstock Pastoral Services Pty Ltd, would be located at a 195 hectare rural site on Calcium Rd about 44km south of Townsville.

Development documents lodged with council show the facility would be built in four stages, with stage 1 resulting in an annual average throughput of about 50,000 cows annually.

At maximum capacity the company expects the total number of cows moving through the facility will be limited to 150,000 heads of cattle a year.

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According to the lodged plans, the nearest townships are Woodstock, 7.5km away from the site, and Reid River, which is nearly 10km away.

The property has had various modifications over its history of use and has largely been used for agriculture purposes, primarily cattle grazing and minor cropping.

The report stated live export facilities and feedlots are “known to attract negative attention from local communities and activists due to the animal welfare and operating conditions associated with these operations”.

“The potential environmental impacts associated with this live export facility development should be balanced with the economic and social impacts Woodstock Pastoral Services may bring to the region,” it stated.

While social impacts are a “point of concern” due to recent negative social media attention on live export operations, Woodstock Pastoral Services has committed to ensuring animal welfare aspects are managed with “extreme importance”.

A similar but smaller cattle holding yard proposed by Ronmar Rural Pty Ltd at Oak Valley was rejected by Townsville City Council in March this year because it conflicted with the city plan’s strategic framework.

The company submitted a material change of use application for the yards over the rural land, seeking to hold a maximum of 15,000 head in 18 pens before their live export from the Port of Townsville.

Ronmar Rural Pty Ltd is challenging the council’s decision in Planning and Environment Court.

The public will be able to lodge a submission regarding the Calcium facility with Townsville City Council between November 21 and December 5.

Originally published as Live cattle export facility and feedlot proposed by Woodstock Pastoral Services at Calcium