AUSTRALIA'S largest livestock exporter Wellard Group and its CEO Mauro Balzarini have high hopes that the potential of the North as a cattle export juggernaut will be unlocked in the not too distant future.
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Mr Balzarini was in Townsville speaking at “Redefining Townsville: a world of tropical opportunity” which is the first in a series of forums that aims to make the city and surrounding regions a mecca of trade as we approach the Asian century.
He said Townsville had become the epicentre of activity for Wellard with 60pc of their cattle now being exported from the city’s port.
In regards to filling the possible 300,000 quota to Indonesia for the rest of the year, Mr Balzarini in understated fashion said the job would be ‘demanding’.
“Since October 2013 we’ve been working flat-out filling the ships. We have shipped enormous quantities of cattle since that time.
“If the permits end up coming through from Indonesia for the 300,000 head of live export quality cattle, I feel it’s going to be difficult to get the numbers together to meet the demand.
“And the task will be made increasingly more difficult as the window for the permits to be released decreases.”
“But even if I have to spend more money than usual to fill the boats I will attempt it as I feel it’s part of my position to keep beef production profitable for graziers.
He said it would be easier to source cattle for export if weight restrictions were loosened of which there has been talk.
“Some of the best cattle in the world come out of the North. The regions beef producers are doing phenomenal work,” Mr Balzarini said.
“Unfortunately the infrastructure currently in place isn’t adequate for the future potential of the industry and it’s making shipping a big logistical challenge,” he said.
“Road and water infrastructure for the pastoral industry in Queensland needs to be a high priority.”
He said ideas that came out of the Agricultural White Paper were good, but the time for talk is over.
“Those ideas need to be implemented without delay.
“As the situation currently stands there is too much bureaucratic red paper holding back the state from large-scale development.
“For instance we are currently attempting to get a pre-export quarantine facility built just outside of Townsville. We have the land, and we have the money but what we don’t have yet is approval.”
He said the industry needed more certainty than it’s currently receiving and procedures for moving ahead with development of projects needed to be untangled.
“We need money coming into the North to keep the small communities afloat. Many of these towns are home to some of the best producers in the country, and without them the industry will take a big hit.
He said if given more freedom and developed properly townships all across the North could thrive.
“North Queensland has great production potential, and I can tell you that Wellard is invested in seeing that potential become a reality. We are here to stay.”
