July 2, 2009 - A feedlot being proposed for Maidenwell could bring together two very different but iconic Queensland rural icons - beef cattle and pineapples - if it gets the green light from the South Burnett Regional Council and overcomes the objections of some vocal but anonymous local opponents.
Bethonga Whole Foods Managing Director
Gavin Robinson told SBBiz composted manure from the feedlot would be used on the company's pineapple plantations at Wamuran which supply supermarket chains including Coles and food processors such as Golden Circle.
He said about five years ago Bethonga had begun working on ways to make its farms as sustainable as possible and during this process had identified composted feedlot manure as an ideal fertiliser. However this was quite costly to obtain.
"We could see the commercial benefits of owning and controlling as much of the supply chain as possible," Mr Robinson said. The decision wasn't hard as he had grown up on a cattle property at Gympie.
If the feedlot is approved, Bethonga plans to eventually market their own line of beef. They have applied for a 2500-head feedlot but initially plan to stock 1000 head, allowing room for expansion.
"The effluent ponds will be built above 100-year flooding levels and constructed in a manner that they can't overflow. We will also be using the Keenan system where the cattle are fed less grain rations and higher fibre to reduce odour," Mr Robinson said. "We're not going to do it in a half-baked manner. We want to work with the community."
Anti-feedlot lobbyists have distributed an anonymous flyer throughout the Maidenwell district opposing the development. The group claims it will increase heavy vehicle traffic, be a danger to residents, tourists and wildlife on local roads; increase odour, breed flies and lead to effluent washing into Barker Creek.