New lamb feedlot and spelling yards to support growth of south west sheep industry

John and Michelle Brodie run a 12,000-head sheep operation on their St George property ‘Deepwater’. The couple were one of 15 rural businesses who received a Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant of up to $250,000 to construct a feedlot and spelling yard on their property. 

The project which will commence in June is expected to initially create three local jobs through the construction phase.  

“The earthworks and construction of the feedlot and spelling yards will be undertaken by local contractors to carry out earthworks, concreting, plumbing and electrical works. A local consultant has surveyed the site and a feedlot engineer is currently engaged to complete the development application,” Mr Brodie said.  

An additional four full time positions will be created after construction to carry out the operations of the new facilities. 

The feedlot will hold 10,000-head at full capacity and will be built over five stages with the funding covering the construction of the first two pens housing 4,000-head.  

Relying less on seasonal conditions and custom feeding livestock are just some of the benefits the new feedlot will provide the Brodies' sheep operation.  

“St George is very dependent on seasonal conditions; however, a feedlot operates 365 days a year irrespective of what’s going on in the environment allowing us to create consistent economic activity.”

“During tough seasonal conditions we will be able to monitor and control what we feed our livestock to ensure we are providing a constant high-quality product to the market,” Mr Brodie said.  

As animal welfare conditions tighten, the introduction of an additional spelling yard along the major transport route will be beneficial to both truck drivers and livestock. 

Close to the Balonne Highway, ‘Deepwater’ is conveniently situated at the end of the triple road train route for livestock transporters heading into New South Wales. 

“A spelling yard will enable stock and drivers coming from the north and west to abattoirs in the south an opportunity to spell overnight or a few days.”  

“It will allow triple trailers to unload and reconfigure, as St George is the end of the triple route for road transport coming from the north and west,” Mr Brodie said. 

Local business will also benefit from the spelling yard with more transport drivers to spend money on accommodation, food, drinks and fuel on their overnight stay in town.  

“Not only does the trickledown effect of the project impact the local community of the Balonne Shire, which has been drought declared since 2012, it also has a flow on effect outside of the region to transport operators, processors and onto food industry services such as supermarkets and restaurants,” Mr Brodie said.  

The $10 million RED Grant program provides for three funding rounds over a three-year period ending in 2021. 

QRIDA offers a range of assistance to primary producers, small business and non-profit organisations. To find out what’s available visit Programs and Services.

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administer the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.