The need for humane and accessible abattoir facilities has never been greater as producers are forced out of larger facilities and face ever-increasing cost of transporting their animals.
The recent meeting and tour with the Murray Plains Meat Co-Operative (MPMC) was well attended, with everyone being brought up to speed on how the project is progressing.
“It’s just fantastic,” said beef producer Lindsay Schultz, as he toured the facility for the first time.
“It’s so much better than I could have imagined.”
The facility is an impressive site, set on a very small footprint but which will cater to multispecies processing.
Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry will go from paddock to plate with the facility having capability to butcher and pack onsite.
The facility has a maximum annual liveweight processing capacity of 725 tonnes, with the initial throughput looking more like 362.5 tonnes.
The project has had its challenges and complications.
Then a newly formed co-operative in 2019, the group was unable to receive grant funding without a history of operation.
An agreement was reached with Murray River Council to come on board as project manager and lead funding applicant.
Council applied for and received funding through the drought assistance grant scheme, to build a micro-abattoir in Barham on behalf of the coorperative.
Under the agreement, council will be owner and project manager for at least the first five years and lease the business to the co-op.
Murray River Council tendered the construction of the facility with the contract being awarded to Steve Tamplin of Tablelands Meats.
Mr Tamplin operates his own micro abattoir near Canowindra in NSW.
With the facility now completed, assessments have and are being undertaken to ensure the facility meets code - such as Safe Work Audit and the Food Safety Plan.
These must be completed before the facility can be allowed to operate.
Any necessary rectifications will be reported to MRC to enact, via the contractor.
The Food Safety Plan is to be obtained by the operator of the facility, which is MPMC.
A Food Safety Plan is a licensing requirement enforced by Department of Primary Industries NSW.
Independent consultant Gary Kennedy from Correct Food Systems Pty Ltd has been commissed to complete the plan.
As the facility draws closer to operations, expressions of interest are being sought for processing capacity.
Initial assessments of daily throughput are 20-25 sheep, or five cattle, or 20 pigs, or 200 poultry.