Unique shearing and crutching trailer coming to Western QLD thanks to RED Grant
Andrew Ross
5 October 2023
A Barcaldine family operation is building an innovative crutching and shearing trailer which will service outback Queensland and create up to eight jobs thanks to a Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant.
Ross Shearing's new state-of-the-art trailer will include the latest workplace safety and animal welfare features, delivering sheep directly to shearers and eliminating the catch and drag from the pen.
Ross Shearing co-owner Simone Pix said the family operation would provide the mobile shearing and crutching services to wool growers throughout outback Queensland including Barcaldine, Longreach, Hughenden, Quilpie and Cunnamulla.
"We're building the shearing and crutching trailer because there are a number of crutching trailers out there but not a lot with a dual purpose of both crutching and shearing," she said.
The trailer will also be used to educate and train the next generation about wool shearing and crutching.
"We will also use the trailer to give shearing and crutching demonstrations and training to local schools in the area with the aim to attract more young people to the sheep and wool industries," Simone said.
The innovative trailer is expected to be up-and-running by mid-next year, and will create up to eight direct, full-time jobs.
"The project will create a range of jobs including shearers, crutchers, wool handlers, and a mobile cook once the trailer is operational," Simone said.
“The Rural Economic Development Grant has been a significant help in getting this project off the ground sooner allowing us to create a dual-purpose shearing and crutching trailer that will service a growing need in western Queensland while creating new jobs and training opportunities in the sheep and wool industries.”
Ross Shearing 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 percent 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 the 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 Grant Scheme page.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
