Calls continue for north-west Qld abattoir

Cloncurry Mayor Andrew Daniels says finding labour will be the biggest hurdle to starting a meatworks in north-west Queensland.

Councillor Daniels says a feasibility study last year found that an abattoir was viable in the region, as well as feedlots and irrigation projects along the Flinders River.

He says if it was up and running, it would make a difference by reducing producers transport costs.

"Obviously the transport costs at the moment - it's a lot of money to get cattle to the processing plant and graziers are just getting no joy with the market that they're meeting at that processing plants," he said.

"Somewhere along the line - I'm sure everyone is probably paying $40 for a steak at the pub - so somewhere in between, someone is making a lot of money and if I had a guess it would have to be the processors."

He says finding workers will be a challenge.

"We've faced that problem for a long time and we are very strong for 457 visas because that's the only way a meatworks will stand up out here," he said.

"An average wage for a meatworker is about $35,000 per annum and the minute they get here and see what's happening in the mining world, they'll be going straight to the mines."

Source: ABC News, 16 May 2013