Environmental Report on AAco Processing Plant

AUSTRALIA - The Northern Territory government has confirmed the final environmental assessment guidelines for the Australian Agricultural Company’s (AAco) proposed food processing facility at Livingstone Valley, near Darwin.

1 February 2012

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Oceania

The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS) has published the Final Guidelines for the project’s Public Environmental Report (PER), which sets out the parameters and environmental aspects to be addressed.

AAco expect to complete the PER by early to mid February after which there will be a further period of public and government comment.

The state-of-the art food processing facility will process more than 1000 head of cattle a day at full capacity, producing export beef products, hides and rendered products for the export markets in the USA, Asia and Europe.

Stock will be sourced from the northern areas of Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, supporting northern Australia’s cattle industry where there are currently no processing facilities.

This new facility will allow cattle to be processed locally, reducing transport and freight costs, as well as carcase weight loss for northern producers who currently need to truck live cattle large distances to southern processing plants.

The plant will be a best-practice operation, using resources in an efficient, effective and ethical manner.

As a state-of-the art food processing facility, it will use the latest technology and modern innovation to minimise environmental impact. Project planning is already taking into consideration environmental aspects of carbon, water, electricity, gas and waste within the site. All processing matter will be treated and contained within the site boundaries.

Location of the plant means there will be a minimum one kilometre buffer between the site and any neighbouring houses. All water used on the site will be from town supplies and will not be sourced from the local water table.

The facility will bring significant economic and social benefits to the Northern Territory, generating employment and creating opportunities for local companies. It would be the largest employer in the rural area of Darwin, employing 270 people working two shifts five days a week initially with the potential to increase to 300.

Plans for the facility also include a proposed community centre, which may include day care, medical and allied health services as well as training facilities.

The facility will support 230 assembly jobs during construction, with up to 270 operational jobs being created as processing levels increase. This could expand if further development of the facility is undertaken.

AAco has a firm commitment to training staff with a view to employing local people to work at the facility. AAco’s target is to employ at least 10 per cent Indigenous Territorians over time.