Mort & Co's plans to expand its footprint into central Queensland has been given the green light, with construction on the 36,500-head feedlot expected to commence at the end of 2024.
The new state-of-the-art facility located at Gogango, west of Rockhampton, will employ in excess of 65 full-time staff and turn over 125,500 head of cattle.
It will also bring with it a $15 million fertiliser plant, which will repurpose the 43,000 tonnes of manure and turn it into a carbon-based granule fertiliser.
Mort & Co chief executive officer Stephen O’Brien said it made sense to expand their feedlot footprint to include the beef capital of Australia.
“The Rockhampton region should also be excited about the innovation we plan to bring with our lot feeding experience," Mr O'Brien said.
"A new fertiliser factory will be turning the manure on site into a granular fertiliser which is proving to be game changer for Australian agriculture.”
The fertiliser was developed at Mort & Co’s Grassdale Feedlot near Toowoomba in 2018, and has undergone significant testing and trials on farm and in laboratories.
An independent trial by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has shown the manure granule, when blended with other nutrients, can significantly reduce nitrate leaching into waterways.
“This has huge potential for the Great Barrier Reef," Mr O’Brien said.
"We are looking forward to gaining some support to run on-farm trials in this region to prove the benefits.”
As Australia's largest privately-owned lot feeder, the geographical diversification allows them to spread the risk, but Mort & Co executive chairman Charlie Mort said they're very much committed to the prosperity of the region.
“We are in the business of innovation and creating a sustainable industry that will service not only this region, but Australian agriculture for many years to come," Mr Mort said.
“That package doesn’t just come with lot feeding experience, it comes with sustainable practices and innovative solutions that the Rockhampton region will be very proud of.”
Mr Mort said the company had worked hard to develop complementary businesses over the past five years, to ensure they were contributing to a sustainable and circular economy.
“We now have a de-hulling and de-oiling cotton seed plant which allows us to extract the meal and oil from the seed, which means that, like the manure, there is no waste," he said.
“Our science team has developed a new program which will allow our producers to measure and monitor methane emissions and predict herd production.
“We have a number of trials, including one with Sea Forest, to use seaweed in our stockfeeds to reduce methane on farm.”
Above: Mort & Co executive chairman Charlie Mort, Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams and Mort & Co chief executive officer Stephen O’Brien at the project announcement in Rockhampton on Friday.
Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams said welcoming Mort & Co to the region was a feather in the beef capital’s cap.
“We’re excited by the economic benefits of having a company like Mort & Co developing in our region, which dovetails beautifully with our beef industry and our Economic Development Strategy," Mr Williams said.
"Agriculture and the beef industry have been big contributors to our region and sectors where we see real growth opportunities going forward.
"Our focus is on attracting new jobs and investment opportunities, and it’s great to see Mort and Co’s project progressing.”
Mort & Co is now in discussions with stakeholders and is undertaking preliminary design work.
Completion of the design and tender work is expected early next year.