‘‘I don’t think it will be about waltzing into China and opening up an abattoir – there will be a process,’’ Dean Ryan of South East Asian Livestock Services said.

‘‘But it is certainly exciting that we have other marketing options for exporters and producers.’’

Some in the live export sector are hoping the China deal will help make exports out of Port Alma in central Queensland a reality.

The former member for Keppel, Bruce Young, spent his time in office fighting to get live export started out of Port Alma. He has been buoyed by the news that live exports from Port Alma could be a reality within months.

‘‘We have an under-utilised port in Port Alma and Billy Byrne needs to get this opened,’’ he said.

Mr Young said there were 80 properties in the region that sent cattle to Townsville, yet Port Alma, 50 kilometres south of Rockhampton, was ready to operate and had the advantage of no queues.

‘‘If Rocky doesn’t embrace this, Rocky will be known as the land of missed opportunities.’’

Mr Ryan agrees that exporters were no longer just focused on Darwin and Townsville.

‘‘This week, 18,000 cattle were loaded out to Egypt from Western Australia, and there are ships out of Adelaide to Israel,’’ he said.

Earlier this week, the Karumba port came under the spotlight when the federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, stated that granting irrigation rights to landholders in the gulf country was the way to ensure the future of the Australian live cattle trade. Mr Katter visited his electorate in the wake of Indonesia’s announcement to slash its live export quota.

Mr Katter said that following discussions with live cattle exporters, northern cattle producers, Carpentaria Shire Council and the Karumba Progress Association this week, there was no doubt in his mind that the solution was serious irrigation.

Karumba, which is now exporting 15,000 head of cattle per year, should be exporting 300,000 head of cattle per year, he said.

‘‘There needs to be a few dozen 1300-hectare block irrigation grants,’’ he said.

However, Mr Ryan, director of Karumba Livestock Exports, said the bigger issue was the need to dredge the shallow Norman River so vessels could access the port at the river’s mouth.

‘‘One challenge is to have the extra production and we encourage that, but without the regular dredging, the ships can’t access the port as they need to.

‘‘If the Karumba Port had more access, the numbers of cattle exported out of there would triple.

‘‘We do encourage any development of the north, but we need government support to keep the channel open so we can export out of the gulf.’’

Mr Ryan said Karumba Port was suitable for smaller to medium-sized vessels. 

– INGA STUNZNER (QCL)