Council debates heavily over Gogango feedlot, cattle truck timings

Rockhampton councillors engaged in heated debate over early morning operating hours for the region’s newest business, with the Mayor making a crucial move in voting.

File photo of cattle at a feedlot.

A new feedlot west of Rockhampton has been approved, despite not all councillors wanting to give it the go-ahead.

Hefty debate waged for an hour at Tuesday’s Rockhampton Regional Council meeting over the proposal from Mort and Co for a maximum of 36,500 standard cattle units, located 8km out of Gogango on Thirsty Creek Road.

The main contention was the feedlot would have general operating hours of 3am to 9pm.

The feedlot access route used by cattle truck drivers, is through the Gogango township through Third Street and onto Riverslea Road.

This is the current route used by workers to Rookwood Weir, which is 3.5km from the site.

The development application for the Rookwood Feedlot says the operation would have a capacity of more than 36,000 head of cattle.

Councillor Cherie Rutherford was supported by some colleagues as she raised concerns to planning officer Brendan Standen on cattle trucks travelling through the township to the feedlot at 3am

A suggestion of restricting operating hours to 6am was suggested but quickly discarded as it failed to prevent the movement of vehicles, which could travel at any time and park near the feedlot until operating hours began.

It was also noted that the 3am start time for workers at the feedlot may be beneficial for animal welfare, allowing cattle to be moved in the dark rather than the heat of the day.

Many council officers were called up to answer questions and potential solutions debated, but nothing could be settled upon.

Ultimately, a vote was held and Mayor Tony Williams voted to approve the development with the 3am to 9pm operating hours, seconded by Councillor Shane Latcham.

The motion was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor.

Councillor Cherie Rutherford and Drew Wickerson recorded their voted against the approval.

“This development does tie into Rockhampton’s reputation of being the Beef Capital (and) it will create jobs and boost the economy,” Mr Williams said.

“Keen to see the fruits of the Rookwood Weir come into fruition with projects like this.”

The development is to be built over two stages. Stage one will have a capacity of 22,870, which is a 63 per cent of total capacity, and stage two will have a capacity of 13, 630, which is the remaining 37 per cent.

As part of the approval, the owner must pay an annual maintenance contribution of $8.97 per B-double movement and $11.80 per a-double movement for wear and tear on the roads.

Road widening to Third Street and Thirsty Creek Road must be completed prior to operation, to accommodate the swept path of a 36m-long a-double type 1 road train.

Any upgrades or repairs are to be carried out at the full cost of the owner within six months of the date of the report.

The development application for the Rookwood Feedlot says the operation would have a capacity of more than 36,000 head of cattle.

It is noted the feedlot has been designed in accordance with national guidelines, standards and regulations in relation to the animal welfare, density and so forth.

An environmental authority has been approved by the state with appropriate conditions.

A public submission period was held between August and September and 1,373 submissions were received, predominantly from a single animal welfare group.

The submitter had concerns on animal welfare, risk of disease, inadequate access to grass and intensive animal industries however this was not a council matter and was subject to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries who looked at the proposal and approved it.

Environmental impacts of pollution to the Fitzroy River and Great Barrier Reef were raised and the development has strict environmental mitigation measures in the approval terms and conditions, including to be constructed with a clay liner and vegetation screening to be built on the northeastern boundary.

Executive Chairman of Mort and Co Charlie Mort.

The business would employ 64 people and there would be no on-site accommodation, with the preference for the employees to reside in Gogango.

The feedlot is estimated to have a $31.1 million economic contribution to the Rockhampton economy and $53.2 million to the regional economy.

Mort and Co Lots Feeders are one of Australia largest feedlot management companies with two other feedlots in Dalby and Millmerran.

Originally published as Council debates heavily over Gogango feedlot, cattle truck timings