Stanbroke abattoir at Veradilla, Lockyer Valley approved for massive expansion by council

A top beef feedlotting company has been approved for plans to expand its main processing facility east of Toowoomba.

Major feedlot company Stanbroke has revealed plans to expand its Lockyer Valley processing facility by improving automation. Photo: Stanbroke

A major Queensland beef feedlotting company has been given the green light for a massive new expansion of its Lockyer Valley processing facility.

Stanbroke, which has more than 1.2m hectares of grazing land and exports to 35 countries, was approved by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council last week to extend its Veradilla facility by nearly 4000 sqm.

The 24-hour processing site has been in operation for years and currently employs more than 600 people.

According to a report from Revolution Town Planning, the new floor space at the southern end of the facility will host automation equipment to improve efficiency.

Beef feedlotting company Stanbroke has been approved by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council to expand its processing facility at Veradilla, southwest of Grantham.

“This value adding facility will include increased and more efficient automation of the current boxed meat product and the addition of ready-to-cook items such as patties, roasts, meat balls, steaks and the like,” the report said.

“A maximum of 550 persons will be on-site at any one time.

“No increase in the number of FTE staff or extension to operating hours is proposed as part of the proposed development.

“There will be no increase in traffic movements to, or from the site as a result of the proposed development.

“The design of the building minimises the earthworks required for the proposed development.”

It is unclear whether the expansion will lead to a reduction in staffing numbers.

The council’s planning department approved the extension on November 9.

A $46,000 infrastructure charges bill was attached to the approval.