Coonabarabran #388. NSW. (Common names Binnaway or Deringula)

Coonabarabran abattoir is located between Coonabarabran and Binnaway. It has a varied past processing many types of stock. A domestic processor it was purchased by a Chinese group in late 2014 to close permanently in 2016.

Other Names

Binnaway abattoir
Deringula abattoir

Current Operation

Closed November 2012.²

Location

Coonabarabran is located 180km West of Tamworth. Or about 600km NW of Sydney.

Hema Maps – Australia Handy map 9th edition

Owner

Chillana Pty Ltd – Trading as Bunganbah Meats¹
- Owner – Beres Lang²
Owner of actual plant – Warren Sciffleet²

Operation

Only three species abattoir in region²,
- Located west of great dividing range to provide service kill for local butchers²
Processed cattle, lamb and Pigs²

Figure 1. Area shaded is area that had been serviced by the Coonabarabran abattoir at time of closure 2012
Map – Hema – Australia Handy Map. 9th Edition

History

2008

August. Effluent pollution occured over 7 days – convicted in 2010.¹
- Underground pipe in treatment works ruptured causing untreated effluent to escape under pressure and pollute Salty Creek.¹
- Creek turned red and froth with animal fat on the surface¹
- Cleanup included 4 truck loads of fat and contaminated material.¹
- Creek was rendered toxic to aquatic life for a short period of time.¹
- Pollution incident was only discovered by chance – need to implement checking mechanisms and ability to detect problems¹

2010

December. Ordered to pay $60,000 towards environmental program after being convicted of polluting a creek with untreated effluent¹
also ordered to pay Department of Environment investigation costs $16,000 and all legal costs.¹

2012

January. Warrumbungle shire council approve a year’s trial allowing b-double trucks to use Binnaway to Coonabarabran road³.
- Previously the 15km had been prohibited use by trucks³
- Made access to the abattoir located on this road difficult³
  - previously the trucks had to travel an extra 45km to reach the abattoir³.
Coonabarabran abattoir employed 30 people⁷.
- Multi-species works, processing sheep, cattle and pigs⁷
  - In the past had also processed emus, water buffalo, deer and goats⁷
November. Abattoir officially closed and administrator appointed.²
- 30 people laid off²
- Owner hoped to sell business in next few months²
- Reason for closure cited as²
- 1. $190,000 fine from Environment protection authority – which business never recovered.²
  2. Owner – Mr Lang diagnosed with leukaemia and unable to work²
Is an interested buyer in facilities²
Local butchers who service killed at Coonabarabran would have to buy wholesale off larger abattoirs – none of who do service kill. No notice given to butchers of closure²
- Other abattoirs in region who would have to supply butchers.²
- Scone – Primo
- Teys
- T&R pastoral
- closest – Eversons Wholesalers Frederickton (Kempsey)
- Cowra

2013

Government is willing to inject considerable sums of money towards refurbishment of the complex to increase work opportunities for locals.³

2014

October. Producers who were using the Coonabarabran abattoir for service kill had to begin to use other abattoirs such as ⁶Nyngan #. NSW.
- Nyngan is a further hour and a half away⁶
December. Coonabarabran abattoir is contracted for sale to persons of Chinese origin⁷.
- Contracts of sale have been exchanged⁷.
- New owners already own substantial land holdings in the Warrumbungle shire area⁷.

2015

Source. ‘Binnaway abatoir prepares to reopen’ QLD Country Life 20.02.2015

February. Abattoir at this point in time is decommissioned⁹.
- Expected to re-open in April, If renovations are completed⁹
- Trading under the name Crown State Meat Company⁹
  - Company executive Director – Jon Choi
  - Opportunity for the company to vertically integrate own operation⁹
    - having already owned 8,500 ha across Merriwa, Cassilis and Binnaway⁹
    - Attraction that the company owns a lot of country and run a lot of cattle⁹
Facility would be export accredited registered to process beef, sheep and some goats⁹.
- Also offering a service kill opportunity⁹
Would employ 22 people^9.
May. Coonabarabran abattoir re-opens¹⁰.
- Facility will process Halal certified beef, sheep and goats¹⁰.
Facility had undergone significant renovations¹⁰.
- Updated boiler system
  - reduced energy costs and increased efficiency
- by products equipment
- livestock yard improvements
- CCTV systems to monitor livestock and ensure safe and humane treatment of animals¹⁰.
  - State of the art video surveillance – Software called Cedar Creek and Sastek¹³.
- Plans were also in place to install a blast freezer and boning facility
  - Tripe processing area renovated as well¹³.
First trial kills had been conducted earlier in the month¹⁰.
Processing will be initially operating as a domestic abattoir¹⁰.
- Intends to become a tier 1 Export accredited facility
Crown state had been exporting beef and sheepmeat to the Middle east and SE Asia since re-opening¹³.
Facility is licensed for slaughter of 30,000 tonnes of chilled and frozen meat per year¹³.
- Capacity of 1,000 small stock (sheep and goats) and 120 cattle per day¹³.
- Plant is currently exporting to over 26 countries.
Facility has a 90ML water licence from the Castlereagh River and a bore¹³.

2016

April. Coonabarabran abattoir is mothballed^12.
Staff were told facility was closed due to lack of stock available and the facility would be undergoing maintenance^12.
Current staff at the site^12.
- 20 personal on the kill floor
- 1 stunner
- 3 rendering
- 2 halal slaughtermen
- 3 office staff
- 6 load out crew
- All staff except office and load out crew were laid off^12.
Facility closure had a significant impact on the local economy^12.
- Not only reduction of wage earnings
- Butchers who had meat supplied weren’t given any notice.
Shire council had been told initial layoffs were due to upgrades the facility was undergoing to obtain an export licence^12.
May 20. Remaining 9 taff are given 2 weeks notice^12..
Coonabarabran abattoir is to be sold^12.
June. Coonabarabran (More commonly known as Binnaway) abattoir is listed for sale
- Owners – Crown State are looking to concentrate further development of beef and sheep operations of properties¹³
- Expressions of interest to purchase close 4th July 2016¹³.

Source. Binnaway abattoir asset to test the market’ Beef Central 08.06.2016

Other downstream and meat processing sites placed on sale market recently¹³.
- TopCut Value-adding and portioning facility on the gold Coast¹³.
- Yarrill Meat processors abattoir at Stanthorpe (QLD)¹³.
- Facility in WA¹³
October. Recent interest has been shown in investors from overseas-based regions – principally Chinese¹⁴.
- Trend goes against sentiment that interest has waned recently¹⁴.
  - Past 12 months profitability in processing had eroded due to high stock prices and lacklustre export demand¹⁴.
Recent sale of another meatworks at Forbes #. NSW received considerable interest from Chinese investors¹⁴.
- Lachley Meat processing plant, looking to re-open as a beef processing facility¹⁴.