Green Light Given to First Stage of Major Protein Precinct

SOMERSET could soon be home to the Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct, a multi-million dollar master planned protein production hub at Coominya, with Council today approving the first stage of the development.

The Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct site is designated as the Coominya Food Production Investigation Area under Council’s Strategic Framework and will be developed on more than 1100 hectares.

Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said the development, which would be the first dedicated protein production hub in Australia, was well planned, strategic and would bring huge benefits to the region.

“This is great news for our community in that it will bring more jobs to the region and showcase Somerset on the international stage through production, exports and hospitality modelling,” Cr Lehmann said.

“Council received five submissions about this development during the public notification period and each of these submissions was in support of the development.”

BVPP director Duncan Brown said the company had undertaken proactive community consultation prior to submitting the development application with Council.

“This will be a staged development that includes intensive livestock production with poultry, game birds and beef, processing, training, research and hospitality facilities,” Mr Brown said.

“The Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct will be the first dedicated protein production hub in Australia, with on-site training and R&D facilities, and will deliver on state and local government visions for a strategic food production area at Coominya.

“It will provide jobs for Queenslanders by putting food on the plates of emerging middle classes in Asia and beyond.”

The first stage of the development, as approved by Council, is to develop to RSCPA standards, eight poultry sheds and a hatch to dispatch quail operation, including nine quail sheds and an export-accredited quail processing facility with the capacity to process up to 15,000 birds per week.

Stage one will also include the restoration and rehabilitation of Spring Creek, which runs through the property and into the Brisbane River, and the start of a Certificate IV livestock/food production training program for students.

The application involving the master planning of the precinct is yet to be lodged with Council.