Roma beef expansion to create local jobs thanks to RED Grant
Rosie Dearden and Angus Cooper
11 August 2023
A South-West Queensland beef operation will expand their feedlot at Roma from 1500 to 2500 head of cattle and create up to six local jobs thanks to a Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant.
Owned by Peter Dearden and brother-in-law Matthew Durack, the vertically integrated beef business, 2DE Pty Ltd, will use its Bellevue property in Roma for the feedlot expansion.
Peter said the Bellevue property was well-equipped for finishing cattle and features 480 hectares of cropping country.
“The expansion at our Bellevue property near Roma will mean we’ll be able to finish all of our own bred cattle through this feedlot and meet the increased demand for our beef, while exploring new markets to build our business.," Peter said.
“The project will create six local jobs including farm hands, machinery operators, pen riders and administration staff.
“We are grateful to the Palaszczuk Government for this Rural Economic Development Grant because it means we will be able to finish this project a lot quicker than planned.”
The construction of the new feedlot pens is expected to be completed by mid-next year.
2DE Pty Ltd is one of 24 businesses approved for the fifth round of the competitive RED grants program with a total funding of $3.9 million. Overall, the fifth round of the RED Grants program is expected to create up to 215 direct, long-term jobs.
Grants are available for up to $200,000 with a 50 per cent cash contribution requirement from applicants to fund projects which generate economic and employment opportunities related to primary production value chains across rural and remote Queensland.
Over five years, the Palaszczuk Government’s RED Grants program has provided a total of $13.3 million in funding to support 59 successful regional agribusiness projects, worth more than $52.4 million and estimated to create over 2,500 new direct and indirect jobs.
A sixth round of RED Grants, supporting Indigenous-owned agribusinesses and projects aimed at low-emissions agriculture, has been allocated for the 2023-24 financial year, with applications to open later this year.
For more information about the RED Grant scheme, visit the RED Grants scheme page.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
