Category Archives: Queensland

Sarina. #. QLD

(this will appear on description)

Small domestic and service kill abattoir, North Of Mackay QLD. Placed on the market for sale September 2016.

Other Names

  • Sarina4
  • Common name used – Kemp Meats4.

Current Operation

  • Facility was placed on market for sale in September 20164.

Location

  • Mackay is located in the Tropical climate of Northern Queensland on the east coast.

Insert – Australia map. location of approximate town site.

(Make Australia map default picture for site.)

Insert – Locality map of more localised area of site

Other abattoirs in Australia

Go to this link to view Location of Australian Abattoirs

abattoirs_edited-1   

Owner

  • Owners names and approximate time period of operation

Operation

  • Small domestic service kill abattoir4
    • Provided  a kill for cattle to large Lotus Park Feedlot near Marlborough4
  • Capacity of 40 cattle per day and 50 pigs or 100 lambs per day4
  • 60 ha site4.
  • Infrastructure includes4;
    • Freezing and chilling infrastructure to cater for 40 bodies of beef a day
    • Separate small stock chiller.
    • Rendering plant includes a dual fuel boiler by diesel or tallow.
    • Surrounding holding paddocks, sown to signal, pangola and Rhodes grasses
    • 3 bedroom managers/caretakers residence
    • Receival yards at the plant
      • second set of steel cattle yards in the paddocks
    • 4 bay machinery shed
    • Bore is commercially licensed to supply the abattoir

 

History of Sarina. QLD

Year

2016

Sale agent details for inquiries to Sarina Abattoir

Source.‘Three meat processing plants hit the market – What’s behind it? Beef Central 14.09.2016

Sarina Abattoir

 

 

Source. Elders Real estate website. Property ID 7843954

Source Watts Machinery Sale. 16.09.2016

 

 

Sources of Sarina. QLD

  1. ‘World on a plate. A history of meat processing in Australia’ Stephen Martyn
  2. Ausmeat Accreditation list – Date
  3. Facility website
  4. ‘Three meat processing plants hit the market – What’s behind it? Beef Central 14.09.2016

 

Roma

Other Names

  • Ladbrooks1

Current Operation

Location   

  • Roma is located in Central Queensland approximately 470km west of Brisbane.

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • George & Alanah Ladbrook1

Operation   

History

2002

  • Abattoir purchased by Ladbrooks.1

2014

  • Was killing 40 head of cattle and 200 lambs a week.1
  • Sold abattoir due to difficulty in operating two businesses of the abattoir and a butcher shop1

 

Sources

  1. ‘George on the job 20 years’ QLD Country Life 03.07.2014

Callide. (Proposed 1961) QLD

 

Callide Dawson co-operative abattoir was a proposed beef abattoir to be constructed sometime in the early 1960’s

Other Names

Current Operation

  • Author – don’t know if this facility was ever built

Location

  • Description of physical location in relation to main town and state
    • distance to main urban areas or export sites of that state

Insert – Australia map. location of approximate town site.

(Make Australia map default picture for site.)

Insert – Locality map of more localised area of site

Other abattoirs in Australia

Go to this link to view Location of Australian Abattoirs

abattoirs_edited-1   

History

Year

1961

  • May. Association consultants estimate a capital requirement of £177,258 to build a new abattoir
  • October. Two government loans are offered to the construction of the Callide Dawson Co-operative abattoir
    • Most shareholders were dairy and grain producers
      • Up to 680 individual shareholders
    • £87,500 is put towards fixed capital requirements
    • £20,000 is put towards working capital

Sources

  1. Parliamentary debate 11/10/1961

Charleville. Game Meat. QLD

Charleville game meat abattoir processed mainly kangaroos that were hunted in the region. The collapse of the Russian export market in 2009 caused it’s closure. It was proposed to reopen after a significant refurbishment by a Chinese investor with $45M. The facility was to be revamped to process mainly cattle.

Other Names

  • Operating business name
  • Charleville kangaroo works

Current Operation

  • Facility is currently closed2
  • Aus meat Accreditation number
  • Operator website links
    • Contact for employment
    • Contact for sales.

Location

  • Description of physical location in relation to main town and state
    • distance to main urban areas or export sites of that state

Insert – Australia map. location of approximate town site.

(Make Australia map default picture for site.)

Insert – Locality map of more localised area of site

Location relative to other abattoirs across Australia

Location of Australian Abattoirs

abattoirs_edited-1

  Location of Australian Abattoirs

How this map works.
This is a google engine layered map. At the moment it consists of 7 layers. By clicking on the box on the right hand side of the layers names it will illustrate the location of the abattoirs.

This is a work in progress and is not a complete list of all abattoirs that have operated in Australia or are currently operating.
Locations are approximate and are in relation to the closest town to which they are addressed.

The same abattoir site may appear in two different lists.

Use this link to access the Google map Australian Abattoirs locations.

 Location of Australian Abattoirs      

Owner

  • Owners names and approximate time period of operation

Operation

  • Aus-meat accreditation dates.
  • Website link to owner of facility
    • Employment link to operator of facility
    • Sale enquiries
  • Type of facility and accreditations for livestock types1

 

History

Year

2007

Source RIRDC.New.Animal.Abattoirs.in.Australia.2007

2009

  • Facility closes2
    • Russian export market collapses2

2016

  • August. Facility is proposed to reopen in 2017 as a cattle,  donkey, camel and horse abattoir2
    • Owner. John Burey2
    • Investment has been obtained from a Chinese investor $45M2.
      • Chinese Investor has also become partner in the business2.
    • Money was also raised through loans2
  • Construction is to start in September 20162.
  • Facility will employ 140 people2
    • Facility upgrades taking 9-10 months2
  • Point of difference with Charleville (Game meat) is that the nearest cattle abattoir is Oakey #558 QLD, near Toowoomba, 800 km away2.

Sources

  1. Facility website
  2. ‘Charleville set to get abattoir in 2017’ Sunshine daily 02/08/2016

Murgon

Other Names

  • South Burnett meatworks

Current Operation

  • Closed 20001

Location   


Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Operation   

History

2000

  • Murgon plant closes after sudden collapse2
    • Leaves Casino  as the only plant in Australia that is a producer-owned co-operative remaining in operation.2

Prior to 2007 Bindaree Beef had received millions of dollars in support of environment projects from the QLD and Federal Government1

2007

  • Closed suddenly1

Sources

  1. ‘Bindaree Beef scores unprecedented $23M grant for carbon project’ Beef Central 03.07.2013
  2. ‘Bitter-sweet result, as Casino lodges record $25M pre-tax profit’ Beef Central 05.11.2014

Killarney #22Q. QLD

Current Operation

  • Closed 08/02/2010.    

Location     

  • Killarney is located in the far southern region of South East Queensland within 5km of the QLD / NSW border.
    • Located Brosnan Road, Killarney, 2 hours drive from Brisbane CBD43
  • Killarney’s major closest small town is Warwick, population of approximately 15,500 people1.
    • Warwick is located 30km Northwest of Killarney
  • Killarney’s major larger towns are Toowoomba 100km north and Brisbane 130km to the North East1.

Australia. Killarney 06.04.2017

Killarney. QLD. 06.04.2017

Location relative to other abattoirs across Australia

abattoirs_edited-1  Location of Australian Abattoirs

How this map works.
This is a google engine layered map. At the moment it consists of 7 layers. By clicking on the box on the right hand side of the layers names it will illustrate the location of the abattoirs.

This is a work in progress and is not a complete list of all abattoirs that have operated in Australia or are currently operating.
Locations are approximate and are in relation to the closest town to which they are addressed.

The same abattoir site may appear in two different lists.

Use this link to access the Google map Australian Abattoirs locations.

 Location of Australian Abattoirs      

Owner

  • Hancock Family. 1976 – 20088
    • Roly Hancock8.
      • sons of Roly, Rohan, Hector and Tony8

 Operation

grant thronton receivers.

  • Aus-meat Accredited Establishment list at July 199764
    •  as a domestic abattoir. Accreditation number #0022Q
    • Operated as Killarney abattoir
      • Processing Beef, sheep and pigs
  • Aus-meat Accredited Establishment list as at 18/07/200868
    • as a domestic abattoir. Accreditation number #0022Q
    • Operating trading name – KA Operations Pty Ltd
    • Processing beef, sheep and pigs
    • Rating – A
  • Aus-meat Accredited Establishment list as at 18/03/201065

 History

1976

  • January 17. Killarney abattoir begins operation under Roly Hancock8
    • Staff of 15 men8

2000

  • Facility is taking a break only over 3 public day holidays of Christmas period2

2004

  • December. Plant rolls back working hours from 38 hours per week to 30 hours per week4
    • Seasonal shortage of stock is the main reason4
      • drought breaking rains  in the region
      • lowest level of sheep numbers in Australia this decade
      • Australian dollar peaked at record highs
    • Production is usually offset by higher returns for by products such as hides, tallow and meat meal4
      • High dollar exchange has made exports actually worth less
    • a lift in the Australian dollar will hopefully lead to a short reduction in working time4

2006

  • January. Warwick town shire is considering tighter water constrictions if levels in reserve drop too low5
    • Killarney abattoir bores have not been considered in any proposals at this time
  • Feedlot application for 999 standard cattle unit capacity (SCU) located North branch road at Warwick is refused by council6.
    • Objections had been citing concerns of odour, water supply and conflict with rural residential character of the district6.
    • New application is made for 499 SCU6.
  • Feedlot application for 999 SCU at Loch Lomond (10km west of Killarney) is approved by council7.
    • No objections are made against the proposal7.
  • August. MLA conduct a research project to look at the collection of carcase weight and information to utilise for computerisation and ability to relay information to the producer, processer and wholesaler67.
    • system must be compliant to export standards.

Analysis of Information flows and implementation of an e-business solution for Killarney abattoir. Project P.PIP.OO79. D. Bowler. August 2006

MLA report 2006. Pg 11

Source. MLA report P.PIP 0079. Inside the boning room. Pg 11

2007

  • January. Feedlot application for 1,700 SCU located at Loch Lomond  is sought to be built on the property ‘Belvedere’6.
    • 1km from the previous proposal approved in late 20067.
    • ‘Belvedere’ 440 ha property purchased by Gold Coast based company ‘ Professional Investment Cattle’6.
      • subsidiary of ‘Professional Investment Holdings’6.
        • Licensed dealer in securities with $12.5B under management6.
    • Feedlot would turn off 170 cattle after feeding for 70- day period, to be processed at Killarney abattoir6.
      • represent a 15% increase in cattle processing6.
        • “Help to ensure economic future” Killarney CEO Hector Hancock6.
    • Road works upgrades would be required to accommodate semi-trailer turning movements6.
    • Protests are held against the proposal citing smell, devalued properties, noise, building restrictions, dust and Condomine river pollution7.
      • Area was a hub for life-stylers and retirees7.

2008

  • January 21. Announcement is made of sale of Killarney abattoir to Dudley Leitch8
    • Killarney abattoir sold for $5.1M 62
    • Dudley Leitch already owns another abattoir facility at Pittsworth8
      • 5km South west of Toowoomba
    • General manager of operations – Hector Hancock (of previous ownership)8
  • Sale of abattoir occurred in conjunction with a separate purchase of Condomine River meats8
    • Included property ‘Berrima’ and feedlot of 5,000 head capacity8
  • Sale of abattoir was never advertised. Roly Hancock wished to take a backwards step from the operations8.

Map proximity to Pittsworth 06.04.2017

Source. Hema Maps. Showing Proximity of Pittsworth abattoir south west of Toowoomba to Killarney abattoir near NSW QLD border. approximately 120km apart.

  • Dudley Leitch came into business success with gold discoveries in Victoria, listing ‘Perseverance Company on the Australian stock exchange in 19878.
    • shares rocketed from 25c to $13 in 4 months8.
  • Abattoir will capitalise on 2 of its by -products that have doubled in value recently8
    • Tallow, base for soaps and cosmetics, bio-diesel source8
      • $300 / tonne to $1,000 / tonne8
    • Meat-meal, replacing grain in diets for pigs and chooks8
      • doubled price in last 3 years8
  • Machinery will be installed to ensure the retention of more tallow8
  • Abattoir currently employs 179 people8
  • Abattoir capacity has the ability to process daily8
    • 400 cattle
    • 100 pigs
    • 1,100 sheep and lambs
  • “Half of the staff I’m related to and the other half I grew up with, We didn’t want to sell to just anyone but we feel Dudley is genuine, caring and recognises the value of our workers and we are confident he will look after our family at the abattoir” Hector Hancock8
  • June. 2008 season has been very wet in most parts of QLD causing stand-downs and in most places, the plants starting dates were delayed3
  • New owners will continue to work on working agreements and work with union3
  • Expectation that a new Enterprise agreement will be negotiated towards the end of 20083
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (as at 30/06/2008) estimate Australia’s sheep flock is down 10% (fallen by 8.78M)51
    • Lowest Australian sheep flock since 191651
    • QLD record a lowering of 3.96M head51

2009

  • June. Warwick saleyards receives a record high price of $84.50 for butchers merino’s51
    • sold to Killarney abattoir51
    • competition for some sheep came from Fletchers International (Dubbo)51
  • Currently very positive for sheep producers due to 51
    • sheep prices increasing51
    • low stock numbers 51
    • concern for future over supply by wool growers51
      • meat processors anticipated shortfall in sheep availability during winter months51
  • July. During the last 12 months 70%, 140 employees have undertaken some form of on-the-job training9.
    • All levels of the workers from managers to newly -recruited school leavers9.
    • Aim was improve training opportunities and have skills formerly recognised9.
    • Technology advances and OHS has placed increased pressure on people to undertake formal training9.
  • Leitch Pastoral Group owned meatworks employ 190 locals9.
    • including 50 casual staff9.
  • It is claimed 42 employees lost their jobs at the Killarney and Pittsworth plants22
  • Dudley Leitch is ranked in QLD top 100 rich list53.
    • #80 $109M53.
  • September. Dudley Leitch believes he has discovered potential to revolutionise the meat processing industry10.
    • Transforming animal by-products into organic fertiliser10.
    • Intends to develop the organic fertiliser and test it extensively on their own properties10.
    • Using methods on the properties to stop degradation of farming land10.
  • Organic product will put carbon back into the soil with high phosphorous10.
    • Utilises natural products that make the soil super-absorbent with combined with nitrogen and phosphorous10.
  • Commercialisation of the product will incorporate intention to float a public company in 201010.
  • Leitch group currently own 52,600 ha in the region10.
    • intensively grazing10.
      • 100,000 meat ewes
      • 3,000 nanny goats
  • Temporary job losses occur for a month as facility is shifted from mutton to young cattle and prime lambs10.
    • 10-12 people will be laid off10.
      • Offered positions on other properties of the company10.
  • Killarney markets are mainly into Sydney where there is heavy competition with exporters10.
  • Local markets will now be the focus10.
    • bone more lamb and young beef10.
      • output will be a higher quality product10.
  • Pittsworth facility has undergone recent $6M renovations10.
    • New rendering plant that cost $4M10.
  • New rendering plant is being considered for Killarney10.
    • Current process takes 12 hours10.
      • new facility would take 45 minutes10.
        • Tallow quality is better10.
  •  Editorial article in Warwick Daily applauds the long-term business investment in the region of operators such as Dudley Leitch11.
    • Other regions of QLD are reliant on the mining boom11
    • Areas of agriculture require  long-term investment11
  • October. Shortage of suitable cattle for slaughter is causing loss of production at the facility12
    • John Dee (Oakey QLD) is similarly affected, missed 1 production day12
  • Contributing factors causing supply problems12
    • Seasonal conditions12
      • Stock are not finished as well12
    • Rising Australian dollar12
      • Places pressure on price causing some plants to offload product into the domestic markets12
  • Leitch Pastoral Operations manager – Rob Doro12
  • Cattle markets had tightened recently making it difficult to source livestock12
  • Killarney is committed to operating full kill 5 days per week, throughout the year12
  • Wallangarra (NSW) is temporarily closed due to a shortage of sheep13
    • Facility was planning to modify its plant to equip as a beef chain but this would take 9 months to complete13
  • December. Rumours are quashed by Dudley Leitch that the Killarney abattoir is in financial trouble14
  • Recent restructuring at the abattoir had cost 18 people their jobs14
  • Forward contracts had been introduced14
  • Negotiations are ongoing with the unions14
    • Enterprise agreement for Pittsworth abattoir and Condamine river meats.14
    • New enterprise agreement for Killarney would occur in early 201014
  • Renovation of the waste-water ponds was occuring14
  • Development talks were occurring in regards to the compost material14.
  • Clearing sale of some machinery items were to be sold on December 19 owned by Dudley Leitch14
    • 20 properties had been purchased in the last 3-4 years and a large volume of old machinery had accumulated14
  • Rumours had been concerned with how well the Killarney abattoir was running
    • Annual Christmas party had failed to occur14
    • Rumours had surfaced that Killarney production was slowing to concentrate on Pittsworth plant14
  • Loss of Killarney as an employer would be devastating for the town14
  • Hancock family have officially severed all ties with the Killarney plant14
    • Split had been amicable14.

2010

  • February 8. 240 workers are stood down from Killarney and Pittsworth abattoirs15
  • Both meatworks would have suspended operations15
    • including wholesale and feedlot arm Condamine River meats15
  • Management say abattoir is not closed and they have not sacked anyone15
  • Stand down was a result of current economic climate15
    • competitive marketplace a factor16
  • “The meat industry is a difficult environment at the best of times and this has been a particularly tough period” Rob Doro. Leitch Pastoral Group operations manager.15
  • Announcement of stand down comes only 2 months of assurances the abattoir wasn’t in financial trouble.15
  • Further announcement is expected to occur 12/02/201016
    • Management were confident of the plant re-opening, staff were not16.
  • Pittsworth residents said closure of the Pittsworth abattoir would be a massive blow to the community17.
    • Pittsworth currently employed 110 people17.
  •  Killarney currently employ 130 workers18.
  • Condamine River meats, uncertain of number of employees stood down18.
  • Meatworks would continue to operate with skeleton staff18.
  • Leitch Pastoral group would ensure employees were paid entitlements18.
  • Outstanding debts to Leitch pastoral were being actively pursued to meet creditor obligations18.
  • Killarney had been the regions largest employer for 30 years18.
  • Yangan abattoir was receiving enquiry from wholesale and retail butchers desperate to secure kill space in wake of the Killarney closure18.
    • Yangan didn’t have the infrastructure to process more stock18.
      • currently at 70% kill capacity18.
        • To increase capacity use would require significant increase in the workforce18.
  • February 12. confidence increases for the meatworks re-opening due to the fact 800 sheep are in the abattoir yards19
    • Management say the stock have been in the yards since the initial shutdown19
      • Stock have been on feed and water for the duration19
  • Announcement is made that the closure of the Killarney and Pittsworth abattoirs will continue in-definitely20
  • Dudley Leitch is confident the plant will re-open20
  • Grant Thornton, Brisbane based management consultants are hired to begin a debt collection program20
    • Expected to accelerate recouping of debt owed
  • Government provide assistance packages and support to employees of the facilities21
    • Jobs Assist program to assist employees to look for other positions21
    • Working with the unions to provide accelerated Centrelink entitlements
  • An independent government review identifies solutions that will keep the business afloat21
    • Company may or may decide to accept the proposals21.
  • Annual turnover of the 2 plants is in excess of $80M22
    • Businesses have a substantial amount owing from debtors22
  • Workers are angry and in disbelief at the recent announcements22
    • Claim the owners misled them22
  • Some producers are owed money by the abattoirs for livestock sold as well as for wages owed22
  • Government had been providing  assistance for some time to the abattoirs through the ‘Job assist program’22
  • February 16. AMIEU call for urgent meeting with management to provide definite dates and certainty to workers regarding work and entitlements23
    • Staff are not yet legally redundant, therefore are effectively still employed by the facility23
    • Workers are unable to claim concessions if they are not made redundant
    • Centrelink unemployment entitlement may allow $400 / fortnight payment23
      • Wages were nearer $1200 a week23.
  • February 19. 4 Workers accuse Leitch Pastoral Group have failed to make superannuation payments to employees accounts since June 200924
  • Payroll anomalies are being investigated by Grant Thornton management consultants24
    • Some employees are also owed holiday pay24
  • Employees have contacted superannuation funds, who then referred to Australian taxation office to begin an investigation into the workers entitlements24.

GT 2nd report. pg 25

Source gtal 2010 ka operations report released 01/04/2010
Showing final figures of monies owed for employee entitlements by KA operations.

  • Wallangarra (NSW) plant is sold to South Australian company25
    • workers at Wallangarra are assure their jobs are secure25
    • Wallangarra has been accessing some stock that normally would have been processed at Killarney and selling product into areas traditionally sold to also by Killarney25
  • Current sheep prices are very high25
    • due to low flock numbers nationally25
  • Gympie meatworks – Nolan Meats business was operating as normal52
    • highest throughput of cattle, processing 400 head a day52
  • March 3. Leitch Pastoral Group is placed into voluntary administration26
  • Dudley Leitch assures those affected by the Killarney abattoir the facility would be re-opened once debts had been collected from suppliers26
  • Several parties have shown interest in creating an alliance to keep the facility in operation26
  • Leitch Pastoral Group is now under the control of Michael McCann from the Grant Thornton accounting firm27
  • Operations at the Killarney and Pittsworth abattoirs would remain suspended
    • Likely the facilities will be placed for sale27
  • Westpac bank announce a relief package to assist customers who are employees of Leitch pastoral company affected by the closure of the abattoirs28
    • Home loans may defer payments for 3 months28
    • Existing business loans can request loan restructure without usual bank fees applicable28
    • Credit card customers can request emergency credit limit rises28
    • Personal loan customers can apply to refinance at a discounted fixed interest rate28
    • Westpac will waive interest penalties for early drawing of term deposits28
    • Free consultations with financial planners28
  • March 5. Alleged theft occurs of $31,000 worth of equipment from Leitch Pastoral Group properties in the last fortnight29
    • Killarney abattoir had a mig welder and maintenance equipment29
    • Elbow valley Property lost a spray unit29
  • Dudley Leitch is confident abattoirs will re-open30
    • Not necessarily under Leitch Pastoral Group30
    • Both plants are only 2 multi species abattoirs of significant size in the region30
  • Reason for failure of the abattoirs30
    • Outstanding payments to Condamine river meats30
    • Failed bid to unite various wholesale groups under one banner30
      • “The main problem we were having out there firstly the wholesale people not selling the meat at the right price and not making money” Dudley Leitch30
      • Lack of salesmen pushing the product and lack of ability to collect debts
    • Dudley Leitch would step back from meat operations of the Leitch Pastoral Group though he would continue to run the farming  entities30
      • Dudley Leitch insisting the farming entities were separate to the processing30
      • A number of Leitch properties were already on the market for sale
  • Core staff and basic maintenance crew remain at the plant enabling it to be re-opened if required30.
  • Leitch Pastoral Group owe in excess $7M to over 200 claimants31
    • Warwick Livestock agents31
      • Stock and Station agents across Darling Downs are owed more than $900,00031
    • cattle producers31
      • Coomith Cattle Company $170,00034
      • Un-named producers supplied stock worth $22,000 for slaughter of 31 head in November35
        • Had suspected problems with Killarney and had begun to grow heavier cattle and sell to another abattoir at Oakey prior to the end of 200935
          • Increased freight cost of $16-$20 per head35
        • Producers weren’t suppling stock to Killarney because the facility wasn’t making timely payments for them35
          • Producers had to chase abattoir for payment35
    • Superannuation funds $307,500, with over $265,000 to one fund alone31
      • Employees have received additional information from Grant Thornton but may have to wait 8-10 months before payment31
      • $3,000 garnered from employees wages for child support agencies was not forwarded to the agencies31
      • Employees are receiving formal notice of their termination of employment31
    • Government bodies31
      • WorkCover QLD $584,00031
      • Governments Levies Revenue Service $78,00031
  • Dudley Leitch himself is listed as a creditor – owed $2.25M31
    • Dudley Leitch supplied stock from his own properties to the Killarney abattoir when the facility was struggling to source stock35
    • $946,000 is owed internally between the 3 entities of the Lietch Pastoral Group31
    • Dudley Leitch had personally rung people to assure they would receive their money31
  • Full liabilities is still unknown as they don’t include former employees or financiers31
  • Suppliers feel Dudley Leitch should not be listed as a creditor31
    • Now like all failed businessmen he is finding blame with everyone but himself” – suppliers31
  • Creditor documents cast doubt on whether those owed money would see much32
    • Creditors view that voluntary administration absolves the groups owner of any responsibility to pay his debts32
    • Dudley gets to keep his assets because the voluntary administration only relates to the 3 other entities32
  • Employees rank as a priority ahead of claims by ordinary unsecured creditors and ahead of secured creditor31
    • 2nd – Rural Bank31
  • Accounting firm Grant Thornton to receive $225,000 for resolving the crisis31
    • $485 hourly rate31
    • Suppliers were cynical of administrators being able to guarantee their payment but not payment to other creditors31
  • Dudley Leitch quits as Director of Kings Minerals due to personal reasons32
    • Walks away with share portfolio of $5.7M32
    • Not uncommon for company directors to resign from other positions if certain their interests could be subject to intervention32
  • March 10. A proposal by the Leitch Pastoral Group to resurrect the Killarney abattoir as a co-operative with financiers Rural Bank is put forward33
    • Rob Doro resigned as Leitch Pastoral Group operations manager but allowed him to put proposal forward33
      • May allow creditors to recover money 33
      • Killarney to retain a major employer33
    • Would require Dudley Leitch and Rural Bank to forgo the assets of both Killarney and Pittsworth plants and roll them into a new entity33
      • Abattoirs would have an accountable board with independent and professional directors33
      • Require government support in the form of start up capital
        • Interest reduced loans33
  • Co-operative idea is labelled as “unrealistic, Cinderella solution” to the “only hope” for those owed monies34
    • Those owed money could translate their debt into shares34
    • Financial data was viewed that the abattoirs could be viable under a tightly controlled management regime34
  • Creditors and suppliers were wary of proposal but considered it may be a real option34
  • preference to see State Government take action to ensure corporations were not allowed to protect assets behind trading companies34
  • Views34
    • Co-operative concept had merit if close attention was paid to developing a sensible business model to ensure sustainable volume and pricing34
    • Bank wouldn’t for-go assets in the interest of a few trade creditors34
      • Lietch had always structured the business to protect assets
    • If the meatworks are actually viable why had Grant Thornton not recommended trading out of the situation34
  • March 12. Creditors meeting is held at Grant Thornton offices in Brisbane35
    • Grant Thornton indicate that unsecured creditors would not receive any money35
  • Further meetings are held with government organisations to consider the co-operative proposal35
  • Employees will receive monies owed in 90 days36
    • $1.6M in entitlements36
      • $1.3M is expected from debtors36
    • Federal Government General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme will top up any outstanding amounts36
  • Southern Downs Regional council developed a 70 ML off-stream storage facility last year with the understanding it was critical to the Killarney abattoir37
    • Ratepayers may be forced to pick up the $1.1M cost of the facility37
    • Killarney abattoir had been expected to use 50% and be the main contributor to the cost recovery37.
  • April 1. Report to creditors is released by Grant Thornton.

gtal_2010_ka_operations_pty_ltd_second-report_to_creditors

GT 2nd report pg 2.

Source gtal 2010 ka operations. Recommendations of action Pg 2

  • Reasons for failure of the business as cited on page 6 of gtal report.
GT 2nd report. pg 13

Source gtal 2010 ka operations. Reasons for failure. Pg 6

GT 2nd report pg 7.

Source gtal 2010 ka operations. Insolvent trading Pg 7

 

 

GT 2nd report. pg 8

Source gtal 2010 ka operations. Return to creditors Pg 8

 

GT 2nd report. pg 16

Source gtal 2010 ka operations. Profit and Loss Pg 16.
All accounts are un-audited and showing a trading loss of $1.27M at 28/02/2010

GT 2nd report pg 13.

Source gtal 2010 ka operations. Statement of Position Pg 22
Statement of Position showing debt to Rural bank of $32M

  • April 14. Lietch Pastoral Group meat entities are placed in formal liquidation38
  • Both meatworks. Killarney and Pittsworth are listed for sale by tender38
  • Dudley Leitch also lists a farming property owned in the Killarney area is listed for sale38
    • Employees are resentful of the fact Dudley Leitch owns property in the area but isn’t forced to sell the land or personal home while employees had to wait until legal notice of formal liquidation to receive their access to funds and still wait 90 days for payment39

Leitch proprety groups. Mercury 31.10.2014

Source Mercury ‘Last of Leitch properties…’ 31/10/2014

Listing of properties held within the Leitch Pastoral Group portfolio

  • 3 of the 27 Trainees employed at Killarney have found work at other sites39
    • Yangan abattoir employed 2 fitter and turners to enable them to finish training39
    • Most would be forced to forget training and take work elsewhere where ever they could39
  • Big W distribution centre employed 20 former meatworks staff39
  • Oakey abattoir (John Dees) employed 10 former Killarney workers39
  • Some Killarney workers were able to relocate to find work at other centres39
  • May 21st. Formal tenders for the 2 abattoirs close at 5pm40.
    • Facilities were being offered as 2 separate entities40
  • Dudley Leitch rural enterprises are struggling operating on skeleton staff40.
    • Management team now consist of Dudley, his daughter and a lawyer40.
  • Business review had been conducted for Government by Grant Thornton for Jobs Assistance Intensive program41
    • Independent business review of Killarney abattoir
      • Authors Note – Date is not mentioned of when the review was actually conducted.
    • Report undertaking cost $88,771.9641
    • Report didn’t indicate Leitch Pastoral Group was insolvent.41
  • June. Pittsworth abattoir is under contract to overseas interests
    • Settlement to occur June 2842
      • Killing expected to begin within weeks of settlement42
  • Killarney operations has received interest from overseas and interstate buyers42
  • Dudley Leitch believes facilities could operate as service kill but not as wholesale operations42
    • Killarney may have the potential to export42
    • Made error in not bringing arms of Pittsworth and Killarney meat wholesale arms together – effectively they were in competition with each other42
    • Leitch groups still has a considerable debt42
    • Clean up work was being carried out at the Killarney site42.
  • August. Pittsworth abattoir re-opens under new ownership48
    • Pittsworth closes permanently April 8 201148
  • Dudley Leitch is included in QLD Top 100 List53.
    • Estimated worth of $81M ranked 9453.
      • 2009 ranking had been #80 at $109M53.
    • Dudley Leitch claims ‘net personal financial wealth’ is impossible to assess53.
      • His family are heavily burdened by debt53.
  • Creditors who are owed money by the Leitch groups are taking on extra overdraft to pay bills53.
  • December. Colliers International real estate sale agents list Killarney abattoir for sale43.
    • Property consisting of 32ha grazing land43
  • Dudley and Karen Leitch hold an online auction of 7,000 Dorper and Damara sheep from traprock country west of Warwick44
    • Karen Leitch is also selling a high-class artworks store as a closing down sale44
      • Artes de Mexico specialises in unique forms of handmade ceramics44
    • Dudley Leitch continues to run 60,000 head breeding sheep flock on his traprock country areas44.
    • Sale is not confirmed to meet requirements of creditors but for 16 workers on the properties44
  • Dudley Leitch vows to re-open his beef cattle feedlots at Millermerran and Cullendore within the next few months44
  • Court action is on-going against the Killarney and Pittsworth abattoirs 44
    • Killarney co-op lodged March 201044
      • Undisclosed amount was agreed on and would be paid44
    • Coomith Cattle Company of Meandarra, Perrett Cattle company of Injune (owed $61,000) and the Amber Downs Feedlot at Wandoan lodged May 3144
  • Overseas investor inspects the Killarney abattoir44
    • Local (NSW and QLD) has shown some interest in the facility45
  • Colliers International selling agents are confident Killarney abattoir will be sold46
    • 7 groups of people have inspected the facility46
      • A shortlist of the offers will now be done46
      • Some are looking to re-open the facility others to lease the property46

2011

  • February. 2 potential buyers are in talks with the sales agent47
    • Hopeful a result may have occurred mid January but local flooding had caused delays47
  • April. Pittsworth abattoir permanently closes48
  • Freestone Feedlot, 2,000 head capacity located north of Warwick remains under external administration54.
    • Feedlot stock numbers were down due to high cattle prices54.
    • Feedlot had service killed at Killarney54.
      • Carcases were processed at their own meat processing facility at Molendinar (QLD Gold Coast)54.
  • May. Equipment is removed from the site48
    • Rumours the facility will not re-open48
    • Scrap metal merchant was removing materials and gear48
  • Equipment from Killarney  is used to refurbish Forbes #656 NSW 69.
  • Previous offers and negotiations had fallen through48.
    • Rumours $1.3M had been rejected in the hope of achieving a $2M sale48.
  • Dudley Leitch and his wife are subject to supreme court action by the ATO49.
    • $600,000 in unpaid taxes49
      • Tax debt under the Leitch family trust49
    • Family home in Brisbane was auctioned in the last week selling for $696,00049
      •  Leitch’s plan to move to one of their livestock properties49
    • Leitch’s sell 102ha Beaudesert property $1.33M49
  • November. Dudley & Karen Leitch are formerly declared bankrupt50
  • Tenants on former Leitch properties are ordered to vacate the properties by the end of January 201250
  • Cattle suppliers who took Leitch to court have not received any payment of monies and expect legal costs to have doubled their losses.50
  • ATO launch a second legal case for further unpaid taxes and Superannuation Guarantee charges $998,589.07 plus interest and court costs50
  • December. Killarney abattoir remains in the hands of the creditors50
    • site is gradually being dismantled with numerous sheds and workshops already gone50

2012

  • June. Belvedere (Owned by Leitch Pastoral Group) is passed in at auction $1.7M55.
  • August. Killarney abattoir site (now stripped of some sheds and most equipment) is sold to Chris Shaw $167,00062
  • October. Rumours Killarney abattoir will be converted to a pig processing facility56
  • Swickers at Kingaroy is currently processing 2,000 pigs a day56

2013

  • February. Memorandum of understanding is announced to re-open Killarney abattoir57
    • Northern Co-Operative Meat Company (Casino NSW) and Killarney based business identity Chris Shaw of Canning Downs58
      • Co-op currently run pig plant at Booyong (Lismore)58
    • Abattoir (formerly beef and sheep) would need to be completely rebuilt and refurbished58
      • Initial phase will be a feasibility study58
      • Chris Shaw had been interested in buying the Killarney site and building a pig abattoir himself.58
      • A new pig facility would directly compete with Casino, Northern Co-op wanted to have some control of negotiations58
        • better enable Casino protection for its business and staff58
        • Killarney would have saved many producers transport costs58
  • Livestock producers who received payment of livestock prior to the Leitch groups being placed under administration will be forced to repay money as they should not have received preferential treatment to unsecured creditors59
    • First call on assets is owed to ATO59
      • 2nd secured creditors – Rural bank59
        • 3rd company employees59
          • owed approximately $1.5M60
    • Return of payment of money will place undue stress on suppliers who provided stock under contract and in good faith of payment59
    • Some were considering a joined legal action to keep the money59
  • Law: Corporations Act60
    • By Law, to recover an unfair preference, the liquidator must show that the transaction occurred at a time when the company was insolvent, that the transaction gave the creditor an advantage over other creditors(preferential treatment) and that the creditor suspected or should have suspected that the company was insolvent.60
  • October. Dudley Leitch is working as a part time consultant for a Chinese company mining copper61.
  • Dudley Leitch and his wife are still listed as owners of several properties at Gore, Stonehenge, Springdale and Terrica61
  • At this time creditors owed from the collapse of Killarney, Pittsworth and Condomine River meats have not been paid61
    • Neither has the ATO61
  • Some suppliers who were asked to return payments have to avoid court costs61

2014

  • March. Grant Thornton as liquidators role will end61.
  • Expectation winding up process of the collapsed Leitch groups to be formally finalised62
    • unlikely that local firms and suppliers will receive any monies owed62
  • Re-development of the Killarney site as a pig processing facility could take up to 2 years62
    • Chris Shaw has withdrawn from the project62
      • Owns the Killarney site62.
    • Northern Co-op was proceeding with due-diligence62
  • October. Leitch properties Enisclare and Stonehenge sell prior to auction63
  • Last of the Leitch Pastoral group holdings will be auctioned63.
    • Bodumba will be sold 31/10/201463
      • Final of more than 17 properties63
        • Including 2 abattoirs63
      • Started buying in 2005 and 2006 continuing through the property price highs of 200863
      • Accumulated a rural portfolio of $30M63
  • Collapse of Leitch groups affected local property markets63
    • Prices back 30-40% from 200863

 Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick,_Queensland Accessed 06/04/2017
  2. http://www.cattlefacts.com.au Work Recess Dates 2000-2001
  3. AMIEU – Ian McLauchlan. 2008. – note link not working
  4. ‘Killarney abattoir staff face reduced work hours’ Warwick Daily News 10.12.2004
  5. ‘Outlook murky for Killarney’s water supply’ Warwick Daily News 12.01.2006
  6. ‘Loch Lomond feedlot plan is in’ Warwick Daily News 11.02.2007
  7. ‘Feedlot plan on the nose’ Warwick Daily News 22.02.2007
  8. ‘Meatly deal snaps up abattoir and feedlot’ Warwick Daily News 24.01.2008
  9. ‘Upskilling benefits both staff and bosses’ Warwick Daily News 10.07.2009
  10. ‘Abattoir plan a first: Leitch’ Warwick Daily News 22.09.2009
  11. ‘Long-term investment needed in the region’ Warwick Daily News. Editor. 22.09.2009
  12. ‘Cattle supply impacts on meatworks’ Warwick Daily News 13.10.2009
  13. ‘Abattoir closure kills 200 jobs’ Warwick Daily News 27.10.2009
  14. ‘Leitch disputes rumours’ Warwick Daily News 05.12.2009
  15. ‘Abattoir workers stood down’ Warwick Daily News 08.02.2010
  16. ‘230 abattoir workers stood down’ Warwick Daily News 09.02.2010
  17.  ‘Leitch Pastoral Group closes’ Warwick Daily 09.02.2010
  18. ‘Abattoir suspends workers’ Warwick Daily News 09.02.2010
  19. ‘Abattoir future to be known today’ Warwick Daily News 12.02.2010
  20. ‘Leitch vows to re-open abattoir’ Warwick Daily News 12.02.2010
  21. QLD Government Media release. Mr Andrew Fraser. 12.02.2010
  22. ‘Leitch extends plant shutdown’ Warwick Daily News 13.02.2010
  23. ‘Abattoir workers’ future uncertain’ Warwick Daily News 16.02.2010
  24. ‘Employees missing super’ Warwick Daily News 19.02.2010
  25. ‘Meatworkers told their job’s safe’ Warwick Daily News 02.03.2010
  26. ‘Abattoir owners confirm closure’ The Chronicle 03.03.2010
  27. ‘Abattoir entities in receivership’ Warwick Daily News 03.03.2010
  28. Westpac Bank Media release. 03.03.2010
  29. ‘Thieves make a hit on abattoir plant’ Warwick Daily News 05.03.2010
  30. ‘Abattoirs will reopen: Leitch’ Warwick Daily News 05.03.2010
  31. ‘Show us the money, Dudley’ Warwick Daily News 05.03.2010
  32. ‘Leitch resigns from top job’ Warwick Daily News 06.03.2010
  33. ‘Bold bid to keep abattoir running’ Warwick Daily News 10.03.2010
  34. ‘Plan to reinvent abattoirs’ Warwick Daily News 11.03.2010
  35. ‘Leitch faces creditors’ Warwick Daily News 12.03.2010
  36. ‘Better news for abattoir workers’ Warwick Daily News 12.03.2010
  37. ‘Abattoir leaves $1M water bill’ Warwick Daily News 31.03.2010
  38. ‘Leitch now in liquidation’ Warwick Daily News 14.04.2010
  39. ‘Workers doing it tough’ Warwick Daily News 15.04.2010
  40. ‘Killarney abattoir’s future unsure’ Warwick Daily News 20.05.2010
  41. Parliamentary questions on notice. #697 13.04.2010. Mr Springborg.
  42. ‘Killarney is still a goer: Leitch’ Warwick Daily News 02.06.2010
  43. ‘Colliers lists Killarney’s idle abattoir’ Stock Journal 09.12.2010
  44. ‘No movement on Killarney abattoir’ Warwick Daily News 10.06.2010
  45. ‘Locals register abattoir interest’ Warwick Daily News 14.12.2010
  46. ‘Abattoir set to sell’ Warwick Daily News 23.12.2010
  47. ‘Two groups interested in abattoir’ Warwick Daily News 24.02.2011
  48. ‘Killarney abattoir’s future vague’ Warwick Daily News
  49. ‘Tax office chasing down Leitch’s’ Warwick Daily News 26.05.2011
  50. ‘Millions to mud: Leitch bankrupt’ Daily Mercury. 17.12.2011
  51. ‘Sheep Producers smiling as meat price on the increase’ Warwick Daily News 02.06.2009.. Via http://www.questia.com
  52. ‘Local meat jobs safe, Industry is uncertain’ Warwick Daily News 24.02.2010
  53. ‘Living off the fat of the Lamb? Former abattoir owner Leitch rejects papers rich list tag’ Warwick Daily News 17.08.2010. via http://www.questia.com
  54. ‘Freestone Group still in Limbo..’ Warwick Daily News 05.04.2011. via http://www.questia.com
  55. ‘Belvedere QLD passed in for $1.7M’ www.farmonline.com.au 29.06.2012
  56. ‘Is pig abattoir sale tale a lot of pork pies?’ Warwick Daily News 10.10.2012. via http://www.questia.com
  57. ‘Abattoir plan is exciting’ Warwick Daily News. Editor comments 23.02.2013. via http://www.questia.com
  58. ‘Talks ramped up on new abattoir hopes riding on new venture…..’ Warwick Daily News 23.02.2013. via http://www.questia.com
  59. ‘Producers’ nightmare as big funs demand cash’ Warwick Daily News 28.02.2013
  60. ‘Liquidator looks into money owed’ Warwick Daily News 28.02.2013. via http://www.questia.com
  61. ‘Dudley Leitch back in mining biz’ Warwick Daily News 29.10.2013
  62. ‘Two-year plan with set-up of pig plant’ Warwick Daily News 01.04.2014
  63. ‘Last of Leitch properties to be offered up for auction’ Daily Mercury 31.10.2014
  64. Aus-Meat Accredited Establishment List July 1997
  65. Aus-Meat Acc Listing 18.03.10
  66. gtal_2010_ka_operations_pty_ltd_second-report_to_creditors
  67. PPIP0079-Final-Report
  68. Aus-Meat Accredited Establishment List 18/07/2008
  69. ‘Three meat processing plants hit the market….’ Beef Central 14.09.2016

Mackay

Mackay abattoir, owned by NH Foods trading as Thomas Borthwick and sons is a modern and currently operating facility. Organically accredited specialising in high quality grass fed beef.

Other Names

  • Thomas Borthwick
  • Borthwick’s meatworks
  • Nippon Mackay

Current Operation

  • Is currently in operation as at 2016.

Location

  • Mackay is located on the east coast of Queensland, Approximately 970km north of Brisbane, 334 km north of Rockhampton and 394km south of Townsville.
  • The Nippon Mackay abattoir is located at Bakers Creek approximately 10km south of Mackay.
    Aust. Mackay

Mackay

Owner

Operation

  • Mackay is certified for organic beef production.2
    • Specialising in high quality, chilled grass fed beef
    • Cattle are sourced from mainly Central QLD
    • Export markets include Japan, USA, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Russia, Europe, Taiwan, Mexico, Ukrain and Indonesia.13
  • Nippon currently own 3 abattoirs in Australia,

Other Abattoirs in the region

Pentland (QLD)

Ross River abattoir (QLD)

Townsville – Stuart (QLD)

Australian abattoir locations

abattoirs_edited-1

To access this map go to Australian Abattoirs – Google map interactive

History of Mackay meat processing facility

1890’s

  • Recognition that the export trade of meat needs to be developed for the economic benefit of Australian producers (Pg 1041).1
    • Existing low values are due to fact that half to one third of surplus meat is exported.1
    • Should be exporting 250,000 to 300,000 carcases of beef.1
    • £1M pounds is required to construct meatworks.1
    • If not constructed £10M pounds could be added to existing capital of the banks and still their securities would be unprofitable(Pg 1042).1
  • Parliament develope “The Meat and Dairy Produce Encouragement Act”(Pg 1042).1
    • Levy imposed on both cattle and sheep.1
    • 2 funds .1
      1. Dairying herds
      2. Beef herds
    • Fund allows for establishment of meatworks at.1
      • Pinkenba
      • Bowen
      • Redbank
      • Cardwell
      • Broadsound
      • Gladstone
      • Brisbane
      • Charleville
      • Mackay
      • Biboohra (Mareeba)
      • Burketown and
      • Sellheim

1905

  • Mackay abattoir inception.56
  • Authors note – there is a significant discrepancy as to when this site was established.

1954

  • Beef Cattle in the district of Mackay totalled 268,809 head.15
  • Meeting is held to discuss possibility of establishment of an abattoir in Mackay.15
    • If constructed must allow for extension to cope with increase in cattle export.15
  • Mackay Local Abattoir board applied for £5,000 debenture loan to build the facility.15
    • Refused by 5 Insurance companies
    • Refused by 2 banks and
    • Public curator

1965

  • July. Mackay, Baker’s Creek works opens – Borthwicks.16

1980’s

  • The Australian beef trading/processing environment is worsening(Pg 119).5
    • QLD Cattle herd in 1975 was 14M head.5
      • QLD Cattle herd in 1987 is 9M.5
    • There is low utilisation rates through meatworks and the need to reduce the number the meatworks is seen to improve efficency and reduce operational costs (Pg 120).5

1983

  • Federal Industries Assistance Commission produce a report that reveals the Australian meat processing industry has 38% excess capacity (Pg 126).7

1986 

  • April. Joint Venture Proposal is begun to amalgamate.7
    • FJ Walkers (Owned by Elders IXL)
      • Already own 10 abattoirs, including 4 key export works and meat packing plants in Australia (Pg 119).5
    • Metro Meat Industries
    • Smorgon Consolidated Industries
    • Tancred Bros
    • Thomas Borthwick & Sons
      • Borthwicks to add their plants of  Mackay and Bowen (QLD).7
  • Wide spread concern of potential domination of the QLD beef market by the merger entity (Pg 127).7
  • May. Trade Practices Commission (TPC) holds a investigation.7
  • June. TPC announce will not place legal impediment to the merger.7
  • July. Borthwicks  withdraw from talks(pg 120).5
    • Borthwicks had operation problems of it’s own and wanted to sell all Australian assets including hides and skin processing not just jewels of Bowen and Mackay.5
    • Portland (Vic) would be particularly difficult to sell due to union unrest.5

1987

  • Is listed in Aus-Meat Accreditation List as Establisment #67.8
    • Borthwick. T & Sons Ltd.

1988 

  • January. Teys Brothers are in discussion with Borthwick to purchase Borthwick Australian assets and a Japanese branch of the company (Pg 121).5
  • Teys had been in a joint venture with Canada Packers (Pg 121).5
    • Canada Packers withdrew from the joint venture which influenced Teys to seek financial backing from Kerry Packer in bidding for the Borthwick assets
    • Purchase price $25M Australian
  • AMH saw the ‘new entrant’, Teys as a threat to AMH’s ability to remain profitable and achieve further rationalisation in the northern region (Pg 122).5
  • AMH commented that Borthwick operations were the main price competition in QLD (Pg 122).5
    • If Borthwicks not in the market AMH would earn $10 a head more per animal.5
  • AMH offered Borthwicks $29M for Australian Assets (Pg 122)
  • TPC advised AMH not to proceed without their consultation as they would likely contravene Sec 50 Trade Practices Act and likely dominate the QLD cattle market (Pg 123).5
  • TPC placed an injunction for AMH to withdraw offer (Pg 123).5
    • AMH resisted arguing the the order would likely allow Teys to purchase without actual determination of contravention of section 50.5
    • AMH  offered undertaking that Borthwicks business’s would be maintained and conducted independently and in competition with the business of AMH.5
    • TPC accepted but possible divestiture order was of significant commercial risk to AMH.5
      • TPC announced an inquiry was to be held.5
    • Borthwicks sale to AMH was accepted 26/01/1988
  • Borthwick Hides and skins business were immediately sold.5
  • All remaining parts of Borthwicks were combined with AMH
  • February. TPC begins inquiry.5
    • TPC accepts that northern QLD is a seperate market to central and southern QLD.5
    • AMH control 5 of the 10 abattoirs in the region.5
  • Bowen abattoir could lift total regional slaughter capacity to over 76.76%.5
  • TPC ruled AMH had contravened section 50.5
    • Ruling was AMH must divest itself of Bowen & Mackay
      • Could retain control of Portland (pg 128).7
    • 3 months to do so
    • appeals and cross appeals conducted.
  • Trade Practices Commission forced sale due to AMH having dominant market share.2
  • March. TPC final judgement ruling on AMH case (Pg 123).5
    • Case is held as precedent on what constitutes the geographical limits of a product market
  • While the court case was in process AMH had been operating the plants(Pg 123).5
    • Profits from them had been above market expectations.5
    • Bowen was of marginal importance
    • Mackay was significant because of the access to lucrative Japanes market (Pg 128).7
  • AMH offered QLD plants to Anglo Irish $32M (Pg 124).5
    • initially Anglo Irish accepted but revalued plants at considerably less and withdrew from the deal
  • TPC increased pressure on AMH to sell plants (pg 124).5
    • If AMH didn’t sell them TPC would put plants up for public auction at market price
  • Nippon Meat Packers, in consortium with Mackay Sugar to purchase the Bowen and Mackay plants (Pg 123,86).5
    • reported $32M

1997

  • July. Is listed at this point in time in Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing.9
    • Beef Export Abattoir #67 Thomas Borthwick & Sons P/L
  • November. Nippon announce closure of the plant.17
    • Loss of employment of 450 workers
  • government encourage company and unions to continue negotiations of a new EBA.17
    • With government prepared to offer assistance package to facilitate new investment in the plant to bring up to world class standards if agreement is reached

1990

8. ABARES Nov 2011_edited-1

Proportion of cattle slaughtered by ownership of abattoirs 1990
Source ABARES foreign ownership 2011 Pg 31

1991

  • 77 Beef export Abattoirs are in operation in Australia at this time.51
    • 27 have some level of foreign ownership.51
    • Ownership dominated by Japan, UK and the US.51

1994

  • Nippon purchase (Pg 86).5 Wingham (NSW)
    • Wingham is a major beef exports facility.5
    • Tomen sells it’s interest to Nippon.5
      • Major shareholder in Anvic Meat Exports Pty Ltd.5

1995

  • Simon Stahl is appointed manager of the Mackay Plant57

1997

  • Nippon has invested $200M in abattoirs and feedlots over the previous decade(Pg 86).5
    • 3rd Largest meat processor in Australia.5
    • Exporting to 34 countries.5

NH foods Oakey export_edited-1

NH Foods holdings. Source www.nh-foods.com.au – General Information accessed 21/12/2015

2000

  • Seasonal closure date of works 20/12/2000.19

2001

  • Seasonal re-opening date of works 22/01/2001.19

2002

  • Mackay facility is currently operating.20
    • 5 days per week.20
      • Day and Afternoon
      • Voluntary Saturdays
    • Processing 1,020 head per day.20

2003

  • February. Borthwicks fined $15,000 after 3 employees overcome by carbon monoxide gas in a chiller room.37

2004

  • March. Borthwicks fined $40,000 for spilling 4 tonnes of tallow into Bakers Creek after a pumping tank overflowed.37
  • May. Borthwicks fined $40,000 due to death of a trainee export buyer when a stack of frozen meat fell on him.37
  • Paid $334,000 compensation to an employee who suffered permanent disability due to cabon monoxide incident.37
  • July. Facility was shut down 12 hours and 350 employees evacuated due to ammonia spill.37

2008

  • Is listed at this point in time in Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing.10
    • Export Abattoir ( Beef Offal) A+
      • #67 Thomas Borthwick & Sons

2005

  • Rockhampton – Lakes Creek (QLD) receives $660,000 federal grant to re-open it’s meatworks under Regional partnerships program.21
    • Rockhampton Lakes Creek had closed in 2002, 1,200 staff lost jobs.21
    • Jointly owned by Teys Investments Pty Ltd and Consolidated Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (Kerry Packer).21
  • Neither Rockhampton (AMH) or Mackay (Nippon) received any finanical support.21
    • Both sites are in direct competition with Rockhampton Lakes Creek.21
  • October. Mackay embarks on extensive recruitment drive locally but to practically no avail.22
    • workers have left to seek employment in the mining industry.22
  • Mackay employs 20 Brazillian boners to replace local workers.22
    • 2 year working Visa, after which they can apply for Australian citizenship.22
    • Workers will receive $950 a week.22
      • In Brazil they earned $200 a month, same work.22
  • Borthwicks plan to import more Brazilian workers next year.22
  • December. 2005 has seen a 50% turnover in the 500 plus staff at the plant.23
  • Borthwicks will employ up to 50 Brazilians in 2006.23
  • Mackay plant contributed to the Mackay economy in 2005.23
    • $17M in wages.23
    • Purchased 150,000 head of stock at cost of $135M.23
      • Numbers down due to restricted supply of cattle due to drought and graziers holding cattle to rebuild herds

QLD Drought 2003_2005_edited-1

Queensland drought situation 2003 – 2005 www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au

  • Plant seasonal closure 18/12/2005.23

2006

  • Planned seasonal opening Mid January first shift.23
    • second shift in February
  • January. Plan to process 190,000 this year.24
  • Processed 160,000 last year.24
    • 50 Brazilian staff employed
    • some South African tradesmen due to start soon
  • New staff will allow production throughput to lift from 600 to more than 900 head a day.24
    • Staff numbers in total to almost 520
  • August. Up to 30 workers lost jobs due to short supplies of cattle.25
    • second boning shift has been suspended
  • Employees say had less than 25 minutes notice of their termination.25
  • Staff cuts based on ‘last on, first off’ basis.25
  • Australian workers saying they lost their jobs while imported workers kept theirs.25
  • Production to drop from targets of 900 head to 650 head daily.25
  • Shortage of cattle and workers has taken it’s toll.25
  • To operate effectively the facility needs to hire an additional 140 people.25
  • 2 workers who had been on probation period loose their employment after consideration of their performance by the company.26
    • Was done in accordance with EBA
    • Both offered work for the day and one to the end of the week

2007

  • August. 40 Brazilian workers on 457 Visa’s travelled to Rockhampton to meet with AMH for employment at the plant in Rockhampton.27
    • AMH recently been taken over by JBS Friboi
  • September. Federal Member from QLD, National Party, De-Anne Kelly says AMH Holdings is threatening the viability of smaller abattoirs by poaching their overseas workers.28
    • Claims 18 Brazilian workers left a local abattoir to work at Dinmore (QLD).
    • Another 30 workers set to leave Mackay – Nippon Meat Packers
  • October. Meatworks will cut pockets off employee overalls and conduct random searches to prevent stealing of gallstones.29

2008

  • January. Seasonal start up expected to begin 24/01/2008.30
  • Anticpating a great year at the meatworks.30
    • Have had 4 years of struggling against drought and labour problems.30
      • turnover of 35 staff every month.30
    • Borthwicks imported workers on ‘457 visas’ from Brazil, South Africa and the Cook Islands.30
      • housed and looked after by the company.30
    • Another 40 Brazilians, as well as Ireland and South Africans with 50 locals would begin.30
    • Mining has shown a significant slowdown in job offers.30
      • At the peak 600 mining jobs were advertised regularly now only 200.30
    • Existing 350 workforce will soon be joined by 100 more.30
    • Expect to process 150,000 head of cattle.30
      • Increase of 10% on previous year.30
  • “It’s been depressing for 4 years, If it weren’t for the fact we were foreign owned we would have had to close” Simon Stahl. Manager at Borthwicks.30
  • Seasonal conditions had improved significantly in the area.30
    • southern regions were still drought stricken.30

2008

  • June. Borthwicks meatworker is awarded $84,587 in damages for workplace injury.31
    • Total damages award was $102,028.31
      • Work Cover received $17,441.31
  • July. Abattoir will be forced to close for 2 days due to a Truck strike that will affect cattle deliveries.32
    • Truck strike was due to concerns of increased registration costs, harsher penalties for working extra hours.32
    • lack of rest stops forced truck drivers to drive longer than they wanted.32

2009

  • January. Seasonal opening 27/01/2009.33
  • A Halal slaughterman is employed allowing the facility to sell beef to Islamic countries.33
    • lucrative market.33
    • more difficult to access than previous years due to protocols.33
    • Many Muslims around the world interested in Australian beef.33
  • Expected to process 150,000 cattle through the year.33
  • December. Borthwicks loose a Supreme Court appeal against a fine for a workplace accident.34
    • 2 accidents combined total of $114,000.34

2007_2009_edited-1

Queensland drought situation 2007 – 2009 www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au

2010

  • October. Joint research is conducted using the abattoir waste solids in the pyrolysis process.35
  • Waste to Energy. MLA project A.ENV.0101 March 2011
    • solid waste streams from red meat processing are generally disposed of at cost by the abattoir.35
    • study was to look at ways the waste can be treated through anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment and improving management practices, reducing disposal costs and minimising fossile fuel consumption.35
    • Ways for the abattoir to produce their own renewable energy.35

IBIS Jun 2010_edited-1

Major Companies in the Australian Red meat processing industry

Source IBIS world June 2010

2011

  • January. Devastating floods across Central and southern QLD and large parts of NSW and Victoria.52
    • affected slaughter numbers to abattoirs.52
  • June. Injured foreign meatworker lodges compensation claim Borthwicks $740,000.36
    • Began work at facility February 2006 earning $807 a week.36
    • Worked until Mid August 2009, then placed on light duties until early 2010.36
      • Employment was terminated due to injuries.36
    • Claims that not enough staff or rest breaks are provided.36
    • Typical work day.36
      • Start 6am
      • Take a 7 minute break at 7.20am
      • 20 minute break at 8.30am
      • 7 minute break 10.15am
      • 30 minutes for lunch at 11.15am
      • 7 minute break at 12.45pm
      • 10 minutes at 1.50pm
      • Finish at 2.45pm.
  • July. Borthwicks found guiltyof failing to discharge workplace health and safety obligations for incident that had occured 8/10/2007 when a meatworker had been trapped between a metal beam and shelving.37
  • September. Borthwicks finsed $70,000 for trapped foot incident.38
    • Borthwicks had provided training to the worker and had safety measures in place that had not been disregarded by Borthwicks.38
    • Finding was based on Borthwicks failing risk management.38

 

2012

  • Currently processing 750 head a day.2
  • January. Mackay meatworks seasonal opening about 24/01/2012.39
  • Manager. Simon Stahl leaves and is appointed CEO of NCMC at Casino57
  • November. Australia’s negotiations with Korean beef export market need to be finalised.40
    • Korean Beef trade is worth $770M.40
    • Delays have stalled with Gillard insistance that an Investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in the agreement be excluded.40
    • Korea is Australia’s 3rd largest beef export market.40
      • 2011 146,347 tonnes
      • 15% of Australia’s global beef exports
      • Currently 49% of Korean beef imports
    • Delays in FTA are causing high costs to processors.40
  • Australia’s market position would decline dramatically in 2013 to Korea if the EFT is not finalised soon.40
    • US beef has significant advantages over Australia.40
      • January 2015 will seee US gain a 5.3% tariff advantage
        • Australian been incures 40% tariff to Korea
      • Tariff widens 2.66% each January
        • US entering Korea Tariff free 2026
    • If the FTA is not finalised with similar tariff to US markets.40
      • Australia will incur cumulative loss A$1.4B over 15 years
      • Australia’s share of Korean market falling from current 49% to 26% in 2026.

 Profit Margins_edited-1Nippon Meat Packers Revenue Source IBIS world 2010,2013

revenue_edited-1

Nippon Meat Packers Profit Earnings Source IBIS world 2010,2013

2013

  • Mackay abattoir throughput of meat.41
    • 90% exported
    • 10% for domestic sales
  • Distribution of beef enterprises in the Mackay Whitsunday region is 80% coastal and 20% hinterland.41
    • Many producers combine sugarcane and pasture improvment with cattle production or fattening

2014

  • Nippon Meat Packers Pty Ltd changes name to NH Foods.55
  • Logo NH oakey exports_edited-1

    NH Foods Australia Logo Source  www.nh-foods.com.au

  • April Frozen beef shipments to Russia are temporarily suspended from 07/04/2014.44
    • A similar suspension occurred 31/03/2014 for chilled beef.44
    • Temporary suspension of beef offal imports occurred 27/01/2014.44
  • Wingham exports meat to Russia affected, along with another 29 Australian establishments.44
    • Australia placed additional requirements on its testing requirements.44
    • Russia detected Trenbolone 21/03/2014.44
    • Australian authorities held an immediate meeting with Russian counterparts.44
      • providing details of testing and invited Russia to inspect Australian meat establishments.44
      • Trenbolone is not produced from cattle treated with HGP’s.44
      • Russia has a zero tolerance, most countries have a maximum residue limit.44
  • Russia placed new requirements of detection of Trenbolone.44

 

  • Russia may consider Asia, Chinese port and Indian buffalo meat imports to replace decrease is supplies from the US, European union and Australia.44
  • Australia has been a traditional beef exporter to Russia since the 1970’s.44
    • To July 2012 – June 2013 exported 24,000 tonnes
    • To July 2013 – February 2014 20,000t
    • Trade is worth more than $170M a year
    • Russia is a declining market for Australian beef exports
    • Calendar year to date Russia taken only 1,221t beef
    • Full year exports 2010 and 2011 topped 60,000 tonnes
  • Tropical cyclone Ita hits far north QLD coast.

 

Cyclone Ita April 2014_edited-1

Tropcial Cyclone Ita impacts QLD April 2014 www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au

  • May. Mackay region producers are fairing better with climate conditions than Western QLD.42
    • Drought a significant factor in many areas of QLD
  • Other factors affecting producers are.42
    • high Australian dollar
    • rising debts
    • surplus of cattle due to halting of live export with Indonesia in 2011
  • July. Australia is on the verge of finalising a FTA with Japan.43
    • 97% of exporters set to get preferential treatment or be duty free
    • Japan’s standard 38.5% tariff on frozen beef will be cut to 19.5%
    • Fresh beef exports tariff will drop to 23.5% over the next 15 years
    • Beef Offal, worth $167M will also have reduced tariff and increased quota
  • December. Korea-Australia Free trade agreement enters into force 12/12/2014.50
    • Initially an immediate cut to some tariffs with a further cut 01/01/2015.50

2015

  • January. MLA forecast.53
    • Australian cattle herd has gone from 35 year high (2013) to 20 year low (2015).53
      • Australian cattle herd slip to 26.8M head by June 2015
      • by 2016 expected decline to 26.5M head
      • by 2020 27.9M head
    • Adult cattle slaughter expected to slump 15% year on year.53
      • 2015 to 7.8M head
      • 2020 expected 7.9M slaughter
      • Long term Female average in 2014 52%
        • Normally female kill percentage 47%
          • Only in years 1977, 1998 & 2003 has female kill been above 50%
    • Beef exports record levels in 2014 1.39M tonnes shipped weight.53
      • Expected to drop 20% to 1.3M tonnes in 2015

 

 

2013_2015_edited-1

QLD Drought Situation 2013 – 2015 www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au

  • March. Foreign ownership  in Australian red meat processing.

Nippon share_edited-1

Share of Australian red meat processing

Source The Stock Standard. VFF March 2015

  • April. FK Gardiner & Sons plan to build an abattoir, Darling Downs, Toowoomba.46

 

abattoir capacities dept ag sub consolidation_edited-1

Capacity of major beef abattoirs in QLD. Pg 15

T2 Throughput state beef_edited-1

Share of throughput by state for beef in 2014. Pg 16

T4 processing companies market share_edited-1

Major Processing companies by market share May 2015. Pg 16

M4 direct cattle movements NLIS QLD_edited-1

Cattle Movements to abattoirs. Pg 25

F12 hourly labour costs food manufacturing_edited-1

Hourly labour costs for food manufacturing industry Pg 30

  •  December. Currently listed in Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing
    • #67 Thomas Borthwick & Sons Pty Ltd Export Abattoir (Beef Offal) A+.11
  • Mackay abattoir has a current listing as EUCAS accredited abattoir.12
  • Export markets of Borthwick’s include Japan, USA, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Russia, Europe, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Ukraine, Indonesia.13
  • Plant is Halal certified.13
  • Current processing in excess of 750 cattle per day.13
  • Plant closed 10 days earlier than usual for seasonal break.48
  • December. Mackay plant expects it will have to compete hard for cattle in 2016.48
    • Industry has been slaughtering cattle at record rates for the past 3 years.48
      • inevitable a shortage would arrive
    • Current El Nino cycle is creating fear that the rainfall will be reduced in the upcoming wet season.48
      • some graziers are destocking

 

  • American Trim market dropped significantly the last few months.48
    • some processors going into the red
  • Predicts Asian markets opportunities will emerge.48
    • more value add on products
    • Meatworks will look to expand to enable ability to use more of the carcase
    • will see every harvestable portion of organs to be packed

 

  • December. ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates.54
    • Data interpretation – Companies do not pay company tax on revenue (total income) they pay on profits after paying all expenses, including wages, capital replacement, supplier costs and other operating expenses.54
    • Income tax information is for 2013/14.54
  • NH Foods produced Total Income $845,824.273.54
    • Nil taxable income and nil tax payable.54

 

2016

  • January. KAFTA third round of tariff cuts occur 01/01/2016.49
    • Fresh, chilled and frozen beef has a current tariff 34.6%.49
      • Will reduce to 32%
      • Original level was 40%
      • Meat export is worth $A1.07B in 2014/15
      • Korea has always been one of biggest meat export markets
        • Shipments for lamb have increased 35%

 

Sources of Mackay Abattoir

  1. QLD beef industry 1962. pdf
  2. ‘Northern Australian Beef Industry – Assessment of opportunities and risks’ ABARE 2012
  3. House of Representatives Petition. Abattoirs. 09.03.1998.
  4. ‘World on a plate – A history of meat processing in Australia’ Stephen Martyn
  5. ‘Meat Processing in Australia’ IBIS World. June 2010
  6. ‘Employers & Industrial Relations in the Australian Meat Processing Industry’ J OLeary 2008
  7. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing Nov 1987
  8. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing July 1997
  9. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing 18.07.2008
  10. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing. Accessed 31.12.2015
  11. EUCAS accreditation Dept. Ag. 25.02.2015
  12. www.nh-foods.com.au/thomas-borthwick-sons/
  13. NH Foods brands
  14. ‘Mackay district’ www.trove.nla.gov.au 01.12.1954
  15. www.mackayhistory.org
  16. ‘Mackay Meatworks’ QLD Government media release 11.11.1997
  17. ‘Competition & Exit in Meat Processing’ J Rolfe, R Reynolds 1999
  18. www.cattlefacts.com.au. Work Recess Dates 2000-2001
  19. www.archive.amieu.net 02.07.2002
  20. ‘Packer firm given grant for abattoir’ Sydney Morning Herald 19.02.2005
  21. ‘Meatworks imports workers? The boys from Brazil’ Daily Mercury 21.10.2005
  22. ‘Meatworks to recruit 50 new workers from Brazil’ Daily Mercury 17.12.2005
  23. ‘Abattoir lifts staff numbers’ Daily Mercury 30.01.2006
  24. ‘Struggling abattoir axes 30 workers’ Daily Mercury 21.08.2006
  25. ‘Meatworkers angry at more job losses’ Daily Mercury 23.08.2006
  26. ‘Meatworks hopes to keep workers in Mackay’ ABC News 02.08.2007
  27. ‘More workers to leave Borthwicks abattoir’ ABC Rural 07.09.2007
  28. ‘Abattoir beefs up security after gallstone thefts’ www.mg.co.za 05.10.2007
  29. ‘Our Cash Cows’ Daily Mercury 17.01.2008
  30. ‘Injured worker wins $84,000 payout’ Daily Mercury 10.06.2008
  31. ‘Truck Strike will cause Borthwicks shut-down’ Daily Mercury 26.07.2008
  32. ‘Halal slaughterman to boost Mackay beef exports’ ABC News 27.01.2009
  33. ‘Borthwicks loses court appeal’ Daily Mercury 17.12.2009
  34. Waste to Energy. MLA project A.ENV.0101 March 2011
  35. ‘Injured meatworker sues works’ Daily Mercury 24.06.2011
  36. ‘Meatworker trapped for 20 minutes’ www.questia.com (partial article) 19.07.2011
  37. ‘Company must pay $70,000’ Daily Mercury 12.09.2011
  38. ‘Stock carriers hope for a better year’ Daily Mercury 09.01.2012
  39. ‘Korean beef trade under threat’ The Land 14.11.2012
  40. State of Agriculture region report 2013.
  41. ‘Mackay graziers cash in on strong seasons’ Daily Mercury 08.05.2013
  42. ‘Australia’s free trade agreement with Japan could see prices fall for consumers’ www.news.com 08.07.2014
  43. ‘Update on Russia’s suspension on Australian beef’ Beef Central 03.04.2014
  44. The Stock Standard. VFF March 2015
  45. ‘FKG plans processing move’ QLD Country Life 30.04.2015
  46. Dept Ag. Submission to Market consolidation and the red meat processing sector July 2015
  47. ‘Mackay meatworks gets ready to compete….’ ABC Rural 17.12.2015
  48. ‘Korea cuts import tariffs further’ www.farmonline.com.au 01/01/2016
  49. Trade Minister Media release 03.12.2014
  50. ABARES foreign ownership 2011
  51. ‘Slow season opening for processors’ Beef Central 11.01.2012
  52. ‘MLA forecasts beef market adjustment’ The Land 27.01.2015
  53. ‘ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates’ Beef Central 18.12.2015
  54. www.nh-foods.com.au
  55. Mackay Planning. Connecting Mackay
  56. ‘New CEO for Casino plant’ Beef Central 15.02.2012

Rockhampton – Lakes Creek

There is a historical Lakes Creek abattoir and the current facility that Teys operate at Rockhampton. It is not clear if the two sites are the same location or one was dismantled and another built.

Other Names

  • Rockhampton abattoir – there is another facility in Rockhampton operated by JBS, Rockhampton (QLD – JBS)
  • Lakes Creek abattoir

Current Operation

  • Aus Meat Accreditation registration dated 29/12/2015 #7 – Teys Australia Meat Group Pty Ltd.45
    • registered as a Beef, Offal export facility.45
  • Direct employment enquiries to Teys Employment Information

Location   Owner

Teys Logo_edited-1Source http://www.teysaust.com.au. the Teys-Cargill Australia Logo

Operation

  • Teys operate 3 feedlots12
    • Jindalee (NSW)12
    • Condamine (QLD)12
    • Charlton (Vic)12
  • Hide Processing Facility in Murgon12
  • Value adding facilities12
    • Hemmant – Produces cooked deli smallgoods and convenience meals12
    • Wagga Wagga – produces case ready goods for retail12

For employment information go to  Teys Employment Information

Other historical and current meat processing facilities located in Australia can be viewed at;

Australian abattoirs inactive map

abattoirs_edited-1

 

History of Rockhampton – Lakes Creek #7

1871

  • The Lakes Creek abattoir was built.(Pg 261)15
    • Owned by an English company – Central Queensland Meat Export Company15
  • Operated as a cannery35
  • The plant was a dominent element in the regions economy40
    • at this time Lakes Creek was a company town40
    • meatworks built housing for its employees40

1872

  • Lakes Creek processes three quarters of all the sheep processed by Queensland canneries (Pg 39)35
  • Facility was heavily in debt due to mainly expenses associated with the Jone patent process (Pg 39)35
    • authors note – I have not found what this patent was but assume it was to do with the technology and process of canning meat.

1874

  • April. company was bankrupt35
  • Enforced closure of the facility due to the high price of cattle. (Pg 261)15
    • Remained idle until 187715

1877

  • Facility was purchased by liquidators of Whitehead & Co. (Pg 261)15
    • Proposal was to move boiling downs works that Whitehead’s owned from Laurel Bank to Lakes Creek.15
    • Whitehead & Co also owned a meatworks at Ramornie (NSW, near Grafton)15
    • Whitehead & Co had a contract to supply 2M lb of preserved meats to the French Government but had been unable to obtain sufficent cattle in NSW to fill the contract15

1880

  • Whitehead & co went into liquidation (Pg 261)15
    • closure was stated as not being the fault of the Lakes Creek operation itself15
  • A second Central QLD Meat Export Co. was formed and reopened the works (Pg 261)15

1883

  • A freezing plant was added (Pg 261)15
  • September this year the chambers were full of frozen meat for the pioneering enterprise of exporting frozen product on the Fiado. The Ship was late and a fire went through the facility15
    • Opportunity had been robbed of Lakes Creek the honour of sending the first consignment to Britian15
      • In 1884 the first cargo of frozen meat was loaded from Bowen but a cyclone stranded the vessel, destroyed the product and the Bowen works.(Pg 262)15
      • The first frozen consignments from Australia didn’t occur until 1896.15
    • 200 employees were out of work15

1884

  • Works resumed operations (Pg 261)15

1885

  • Company went into liquidation (Pg 261)15
    • Due mainly to the expense of rebuilding and installing imported plant equipment15

1886

  • Melbourne Syndicate took the facility over (Pg 261)15
    • Andrew Rowan, George Fairbairn and John Living15

1901

  • Facility was purchased by a company formed in London (Pg 261)15

1910’s

  • Tinned beef was a staple ration for war soldiers in WWI40
    • accompanied by hard tack biscuits40
    • Bully Beef – corruption of the French name “bouilli” meaning boiled or corned, referenced to small hard grains of salt used to preserve the meat40
  • Rockhampton produced various tinned labels – Herford, Devon (not the  pork based luncheon meat of that name) and Hamper40
    • including frozen sides meat for export and domestic butcher shops40
  • All parts of the animal were used40
    • what was not edible was processed into fertiliser and by-products40

1918

  • Major flood year

1928

  • Facility was idle due to the strain of the post war depression (Pg 261)15
    • meat market was very dull15
  • Facility then went to a syndicate headed by Sir William Angliss and FJ Walker (Pg 261)15
    • Operated under their control until 193415

1934

  • Vesteys, British based but international organisation purchased Lakes Creek. (Pg 261)15
  • Facility began to prosper due to the Empire preference granted under the Ottawa Agreement (pg 261)15
    • The Imperial Preference was a series of bilateral agreements of limited tarriffs within the British Empire but higher on goods from the rest of the world. Principal was based on “home producers first, empire producers second, and foreign producers last”16
  • Improved plant, chilling, freezing and processing facilities were established over the coming years.(Pg 261)15
  • By products were saved and processed(Pg 261)15

1938

  • Lakes Creek is paying 4/ per 100lb14
    • authors note – I think the / is shillings.
  • Northern Graziers are complaining of the high costs of freight and low price that Townsville abattoir is paying.14
    • They call for a public abattoir to be established and operated by the government in Townsville.1
      • To operated under the Abattoirs Bill that allowed government to acquire operate the Canon Hill facilities in Brisbane, enacted in 1934 (Pg 264)16

1946

  • Teys formed as a partnership of 4 brothers to process meat for wholesaling and retailing13

1949

  • Queensland herd was deminished due to demands of Australia feeding Allied forces in WWII40
  • Plans were being pushed to develope the channel country in the west and increase QLD’s beef-raising capacity40

1950’s

  • Canned meat, known as bully beef, tinned corn meat was being boxed and sealed on hands-on assembly lines40
    • refer Year 1910 for more info.

packing tinned meats._edited-1Source ‘Bully for our Beef exports’ The Courier Mail 17.07.2011 Workers packing corned beef into cartons at Lakes Creek meatworks

1954

  • February 3. Season commenced38
    • Ended December 1738
    • Flooding Between February 11 to 22 of Fitzroy river system38
    • Killing season 1954 constituted a record38
    • “Meat supplies were maintained but killing took place in the abattoir surrounded by water to a depth of 2 feet”41
  • Facility was undergoing extensive alterations and improvements to beef killing floor38
    • When completed the killing floor would be one of the most modern in Australia38
    • Handle greater throughput38
    • OH & S issues improved38
  • Pigs killed at the facility had also increased on 1953.38
  • Queensland cattle herds had recovered from dry conditions during most of 1951.38
    • Channel Country was underutilised due to lack of quick and commercial transport for cattle38
    • Cattle were grown out to large framed animals to withstand long walking distances38
      • These animals were not the preferred types for killing38
      • UL introduced – Baby Beef grade38
        • significantly effected  producers to turn off younger animals with lighter frame38

1958

  • Daily processing capacity 987 head of cattle. (Pg 261)15

1991

  • Major flood year

2001

  • Employed 1,350 people18
  • Currently the second largest abattoir in Australia18
  • December. CMG lock out workers to force them to accept wage cuts, a six day production schedule and unlimited overtime22
    • Meat workers were forced back to work under a federal award that was $320 in wage cut for some workers22

2002

  • January. Management refused to open works18
  • March 2. Protesters march through the CBD of Rockhampton in support of the 1350 workers who lost their jobs when the plant closed in mid January.24
    • AMIEU called for mass protest24
      • AMIEU demanding re-opening and reinstatement of the workers without massive cuts to pay and conditions.24
      • supported by the Construction, Mining & Energy , Forestry & Manufacturing workers  unions24
  • April. Lakes Creek abattoir is locked into a bitter dispute over pay and conditions between the now owner Consolidated Meat Group (Kerry Packer) and the Australasian Meat Industry Employees’ Association.17
  • Facility will not be re-opening as early as planned17
  • May. Facility reopened but cut the workforce back to 70018
  • June. Plant was planned to be shut down entirely18
  • July 11. Workers begin a 5 day strike and re-establish a picket line outside the plant22
    • Strike is about production levels in the boning room and is part of a ongoing dispute of conditions of new work agreement22
  • July 30. Facility is offically closed.25
  • August. Negotiation had been occuring for an Enterprise bargain agreement for the last 8 months18
  • Consolidated Meat had come to agreement on Terms with Teys $1.2B joint venture to operate, Naracoote (SA), Beenleigh, Biloela and Innisfail (QLD)18
    • Deal to take effect in October18
    • Company had promised full severence pay but it would be at the lowest agreed rates18
    • Consolidated Meat had been awarded with $20M US Beef Quotas18
    • Governments Scheme based on 2001 rates, 40,000t known as the “Packer clause”18
      • Lakes Creek only produced 3,000t since June 200218
      • 2001 they had produced 49,000t18
      • quota flows into the merger entity18
      • Consolidated Meat will receive same quota in 2003 even though plant would be close.18
  • Abattoir is closed at this point in time 20/08/200219
    • It did open for short periods but had ongoing industrial disputes with protected industrial action begin taken19
    • Variety of owners of Lakes Creek plant had been unprofitable over the last decade19
  • ACCC investigate if merger of CMG and Teys would lead to reduced competition in terms of prices for cattle20
    • ACCC decide not to interven in proposed merger20
  • November. Jim Downey is appointed general manager at the plant21
    • Had been plant manager at Biloela21
    • Plant was still closed but undergoing major installations21
  • Drought was the single biggest factor now determining Lakes Creek operation21

2004

  • July. After nearly 2 years of being closed Lakes Creek re-opens25
    • 160 workers will start when the first kill takes place25
    • boning room will then begin employee numbers to be more than 300 in total25
      • Intention is to start with small production, settle the plant and make sure problems can be solved23
      • $1M in pay cheques will be injected into the community each month from the start up.23
    • Facility will gradually build towards a kill capacity of 2,500 head and employ 1,000 people.25
  • 6 weeks prior to opening Teys had been finalising plans to re-open and purchasing stock25
  • Profit margins for the processing sector currently as high as $150 a head25
    • Fallen due to a stronger Aussie dollar and the falling price of Japanese full sets.25
  • Originally the plant had been planned to open later in the year but successful negotiations with the AMIEU helped to bring the opening forward to July25
  • Re-opening was said not to be influenced by the risk of losing US export licences25
  • Lakes Creek had applied and received $660,000 – Under Regional Partnership grant.26
    • Assisted the facility to go back into business26
    • Funds were used to upgrade computer system and plumbing26
    • 2 other meatworks in the region, and operating didn’t receive the grant26
    • Labor criticised the Government for providing taxpayers money to a commercial venture that could give an unfair advantage26

2005

  • A shortage of skilled workers in Australia forces the company to look overseas29
    • People had been lost to the meatworks who have gone to the mining industry29
    • 60 vietnamese begin working at Lakes Creek29
    • Joining the 97 Brazilians already there29

2006

  • CMG implemented industry award27
    • Required to cut it’s 1,300 workers wages by 30% to remain competitive in the tightening beef export market27
    • CMG attempted to draw up new rosters that included27
      • night time and Saturday shifts without penalty rates27
        • Exceeded 38 hour cap27
    • Union workers voted against the new proposal and would only return to work on genuine award conditions.27

2009

  • December. Facility is considering job cuts over the next few weeks42
  • General Manager – Wasantha Mudannayake42
    • Reason for need to reduce jobs was livestock numbers had dropped due to overseas exports42
  • Biloela abattoir (QLD) – also owned and operated by Teys announced cutting of 40 foreign workers jobs42

2010

  • February.Tom Macquire – General Manager of corporate affairs for Teys Bros28
  • Lakes reopened after being closed for a short period following heavy rain.28
  • Currently employing 760 people28
  • Between April 2010 to February 2012 – Teys Employ 480 humanitarian refugees29
    • “Without humanitarian and skilled migrants Teys would find it very hard to continue production at sustainable levels at some sites, particularly in Rockhampton and Biloela”29
  • Since 1982 approximately 31 abattoirs have closed across Queensland30
    • Slaughter capacity had increased by 50%30
    • QLD meat processors forefront in adopting improved practices and technologies30
  • Last 2-3 years30
    • competition has come from restockers and live cattle exporters30
    • Lower export beef prices as a result of higher Australian dollar30
    • Export abattoirs have reduced throughput and cut shifts and the number of killing days.30
  • Major flood year

2011

  • July. Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) don’t oppose Teys Bros & Cargill Beef Australia Merger42
    • View that the proposed merger would be unlikely to substantially lesson competition in any of the markets examined42
      • ‘fat’ cattle ready for slaughter42
      • acquisition of ‘feeder’ cattle destined for feedlots42
      • supply of processed beef to retailers and wholesalers42
  • Teys CEO – Brad Teys – says been 30 years since he’s seen cattle supply so tight44
    • Producer’s aren’t selling cattle44
      • due to poor prices44
        • forced the company to reduce kill days44
      • Rocky is working on 3 days a week kill44
  • September. Teys forms partnership with Cargill37
  • Federal Government Carbon tax legislation36
    • Creates a 2 tier system with those who generate more than 25,000 t of carbon each year to pay more36
      • Basic  costs would be $4 per head for all facilities36
    • Lakes Creek exceeds 25,000 threshold – would be liable to pay higher permit costs36
      • extra $2 head, adding up to extra $7M across Teys/Cargil enterprise.36
    • Abattoirs are energy-intensive business, Trade exposed, with export constituting majority of total production, narrow profit margins36
      • Carbon tax would disadvantage Australian facilities36
    • Government indicated there would be assistance for to introduce measures to reduce emissions to assit processors36

2012

  • Between April 2010 to February 2012 – Teys Employed 480 humanitarian refugees29
    • By February 306 were still actively employed29
  • December. AMIEU was investigating reports of working conditions of 100 workers who were part of the humanitarian program29

2013

  • March. Lakes Creek facility receives a grant from the Federal Government $4.17 for operational upgrades.31
    • Governments Clean Technology Food and Foundaries Investment Program31
    • Will assist Teys to improve competitiveness, local economy and environment.31
  • Upgrades begin of the waste water treatment plant39
    • involve building a new waste water treatment lagoons and installing a biogas boiler and handling equipment39
    • Methane emitted during the waste water treatment will be used to generate steam used at the facility39
    • reduce the facilities coal consumption by 30%39
    • Upgrade set to be completed by June 201539
    • Cost $16M39
  • Lakes Creek facility receives the Ministers Enterprise Award as part of the QLD state government’s annual Multicultural Awards for cultutal diversity10
    • Award recognises work and and volunteering efforts that develop strong, culturally diverse communities and promote awareness of the benefits of the cultural diversity in the state.10
  • Teys employed 4,500 across Australia10
    • Simply not enough local workers to operate the plants10
    • International workers were needed to fill the spaces10
  • In Rockhampton the mining boom left plants wth an employment shortfall10
    • Lakes Creek employs more than 1,000 people of 29 different nationalities10
    • Employ a significant number of humanitarian refugees and supports induction and training practices that assist new workers10
    • partnerships with settlement service providers and other groups in the community to employ and assist the workers.10

2014

  • June. Teys lobby government to repeal the Carbon tax11 Teys Media Release to repeal carbon tax
    • Manufacturers are closing down across the country due to unnecessary costs and charges on business” Tom Maguire Teys general manager of corporate affairs.11
    • countries Australia competes against do not have the burden of the carbon tax11
    • there is a direct link between the Carbon tax and competitiveness in the market place11
  • July. Rockhampton meatworks in the area employ more than 2,000 people1
    • Added more than $600M into the community1
  • Teys don’t support establishment of a live cattle export port at Port Alma (Rockhampton)1
  • Would be better for politicians to look at transport costs within Australia1.
    • currently costs $14M a year to rail product from Rockhampton and Biloela to the Port of Brisbane1
    • Development of a port at Rockhampton and Gladstone for shipment of containers would be better.1

unions 2012_edited-2Source The Bulletin. 01.12.2012

The Lakes Creek abattoir, Rockhampton. Queensland

2014

  • Teys is inducted into QLD business leaders hall of fame.32
  • Teys currently process 32,000 cattle per week across Australia32
    • Generates a turnover of $2.5B annually32

2015

  • February. Newly elected QLD Agriculture Minister – Bill Byrne said he “supported the live cattle trade under appropriate circumstances, but it would likely threaten the viability of the processors and value-adding of the local meat processing industry2
  • Cyclone Marcia hits Rockhampton 20/02/2015.3
    • 47,000 homes with no electricity3
    • Damage to buildings, bridges, destruction of crops and fencing.3
    • Flood levels were already high in Callide Valley and exacerbated by release of water from Callide Dam3
  • Lakes Creek abattoir suffers some minor damage to the roofing of the head office building3
  • Facility closed and wouldn’t likely operate for the rest of that week3
    • Plant and Equipment are OK3
    • most significant impact is no power, sewerage and water3
    • Until those services are restored the plant can’t operate3
    • Temporary amenities facilities had to be installed because of damage to existing ones9
  • Chilled and Frozen product was being maintained by generators3
  • Number of animals at the facility were getting water and fodder to ensure their welfare3
  • No kill occured on the day of the cyclone 20/02/2015 and wouldn’t for the rest of that week.4
  • Any cattle that were meant to be processed at Lakes Creek that week would be diverted to Biloela or Beenleigh.4
  • Cattle that had been at the plant at the time of the cyclone were returned to some producers at Teys cost5
    • Half were moved to other plants5
    • If the animals were stressed they would have lost weight and cut darker therefore Teys paid  a flat rate to the producers5
    • Temperatures climbed to 38 degrees with high humidity following the cyclone and some cattle suffered heat stress5
    • Heat stressed animals were not transported to care for their welfare5
  • Teys anticipate they would not be in the market for cattle all that week for Lakes Creek or Biloela4
  • Combination of their buying power not present in markets for the 3 abattoirs affected by the cyclone – Lakes Creek, Biloela and Rockhampton (JBS) accounted for 2,000 head per day4
  • Teys advise the plant will be closed longer than anticipated5
    • Many of the employees at the plant were overseas workers and not entitled to any government support5
    • Asbestos in exposed building material had slowed repairs at the site7
      • Asbestos was commonly used in older facilities7
      • Specialised workers wore plastic suits in 40 degree heat9
  • Facility likely to open 09/03/2015.6
  • Longreach cattle market sales had been cancelled due to the disruptions at the meatworks6
  • Markets still strong but there was congestion of cattle in the market6
  • QLD’s kill retracted to 75,275 head, down 7% as a direct consequence of the first weeks closure8
  • Where possible Teys was making forward payments to producers for cattle held up by the event9
  • Teys to restart the kill floor 18/03/2015 killing 1,000 head to increase to 1,6009

Brands_edited-1Source http://www.teysaust.com.au Product brand that are produced by Teys.

Sources Rockhampton – Lakes Creek #7

  1. ‘We’re not against live export but….’ QLD Country Life 17.07.2014
  2. ‘MP wary of live cattle trade at meatworks’ expense’ The Bulletin 21.02.2015
  3. ‘Disaster declaration expected today as Cyclone Marcia farm damage bill grows’ ABC Rural 24.02.2015
  4. ‘Power outages, structural damage from cyclone knock-out CQ plants’ Beef Central 23.02.2015
  5. ‘Asbestos closes JBS plant indefinitely’ 26.02.2015
  6. ‘Central QLD abattoirs closed for second week following Cyclone Marcia’ ABC Rural 27.02.2015
  7. ‘Rockhampton processing delays longer than expected, in wake of Cyclone Marcia’ Beef Central 27.02.2015
  8. ‘Weekly Kill: Cyclone impact reflected in lower tally’ Beef Central 03.03.2015
  9. ‘First Rocky Plant back to work Tomorrow’ Beef Central 17.03.2015
  10. ‘Lakes Creek plant earns QLD multi-cultural award’ Beef Central 13.09.2013
  11. ‘Meat Processor calls on new seante to stop games and repeal carbon tax’ Teys Media Release 03.06.2014
  12. Teys Website-facilities
  13. http://www.teysaust.com.au/about/
  14. ‘Public Abattoir Needed’ Courier-Mail 27.08.1938
  15. ‘Triumph in the Tropics’ 1959 Queensland Government
  16. Empire preference Ottawa Agreement
  17. ‘Lakes Creek abattoir re-opening plans delayed’ www.justfood.com 25.04.2002
  18. ‘Government rewards Packer for meatworks closure’ the Guardian 07.08.2002
  19. Parliament Hansard – Meat Industry Consultive structure and quota allocation 20.08.2002
  20. ACCC – Consolidated Meat Group and Teys Bros merger proposal
  21. ‘Drought biggest driver of Lakes Creek Opening’ QLD CL 14.11.2002
  22. ‘Lakes Creek Workers continue dispute’ www.wsws.org 13.07.2002
  23. ‘Lakes Creek abattoir to reopen’ ABC rural 13.07.2004
  24. ‘Thousands march to support meatworkers’ Green left 13.03.2002
  25. ‘Lakes Creek reopens Monday’ QLD CL 15.07.2004
  26. ‘Packer Firm given grant for abattoir’ SMH 19.02.2005
  27. ‘Union Avoidance Strategies in the meat processing/packing industry in Australia and the USA compared’ Jerrard, O’Leary
  28. ‘Lakes Creek has few lifelines’ the Bulletin 11.02.2010
  29. ‘Union investigates raw deal for refugees at abattoir’ The Bulletin 01.12.2012
  30. QLD Beef Industry Beef situation analysis 2010
  31. ‘Meatworks gets Federal Government grant’ Daily Mercury 05.03.2013
  32. 2014 Inductee – QLD business Leaders Hall of Fame
  33. History
  34. Great Barrier Reef – Environmental History, Ben Daley
  35. ‘To Feed a Nation – A history of Australian food science and technology ‘ Kieth Farrer. 2005
  36. ‘Carbon tax could cost $19M year for big three processors’ Brahman News. 2011
  37. ”Cargill & Teys merger good for the beef industry’ Meat Trade Daily. 22.05.2011
  38. ‘Lakes Creek meatworks had record year’ CQ Herald 06.01.1955
  39. ‘Methane for power at Teys Australia Lakes Creek meatworks’ The Bulletin 19.03.2014
  40. ‘Bully for our beef exports’ Courier Mail 17.07.2011
  41. AMIC Prime Cuts Newsletter 11.01.2011
  42. ‘Meatworks jobs may get the chop’ The Morning Bulletin 11.12.2009
  43. ACCC will not oppose Teys Bros & Cargill Beef Australia proposed merger
  44. ‘Cattle supply chokes’ ABC Rural 14.07.2011
  45. AUS-MEAT Accreditation Listing 29.12.2015

`

Australian Abattoir Locations

How this map works.
This is a google engine layered map. At the moment it consists of 7 layers. By clicking on the box on the right hand side of the layers names it will illustrate the location of the abattoirs.

This is a work in progress and is not a complete list of all abattoirs that have operated in Australia or are currently operating.
Locations are approximate and are in relation to the closest town to which they are addressed.

The same abattoir site may appear in two different lists.

Use this link to access the Google map Australian Abattoirs locations.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zg2q19Y75dIo.k9ID5cjkgPd0

abattoirs_edited-1

The Layers are

Closed prior to 1970

Closed after 1970

2014 Domestic Meat processors in current operation – as per the Ausmeat listing 16/07/2014

2014 Export Meat processors in current operation – as per the Ausmeat listing 16/07/2014

1963 Export meatworks  – as per  list of Meat export works in Australia as at February 1963 from the book ‘World on a plate – A history of meat processing in Australia’ Stephen Martyn. 2013.

Other abattoirs currently in operation

These are abattoirs located in some states that I am aware of

Abattoirs under construction

      These are abattoirs I am aware of.

Australian Abattoir and Meat Processor Locations

Roma #2 (Proposed)

 

July 2014. Maronoa council is seeking $75,000 to conduct a feasibility study into the establishment of an abattoir to process beef, sheep and goats. Proposal is reliant on a new airport at Toowoomba currently being built, rail link improvements that are proposed to Miles and extension of the rail from there to Roma.

Other Names

Current Operation

  •  Proposal.

Location

Owner

Operation

History

2014

  • July. Maronoa Regional Council seeking funding of $75,000 from state and Federal government to budget for ‘high level feasibility’ study into establishment of a beef, sheep and game meat abattoir at Roma.1
  • Wellcamp Airport at Toowoomba is being constructed and could open new opportunities to Asia, Middle East.1
  • Proposed upgrades to inland rail infrastructure.1
    • Rail  improvments to finish at Miles1
  • some private sector interest had been shown from a delegation from Asia1
  • Not looking to compete with Charleville (QLD) goat abattoir.1
    • Charleville abattoir currently operating at capacity with 80% of the feral goats coming from Surat Basin area.1
  • Council looking for ways to soften downturn in the economy that is predicted to hit once  the resource boom subsides.1

Sources

  1. ‘Roma ramps up abattoir study’ QLD Country Life 31.07.2014
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