South West meat industry rallies to create multi-species ‘long-term’ kill space

Producers, butchers and industry reps across the South West and Great Southern have rallied together in Denmark with the sole purpose of creating long-term meat processing solutions. WA Meat Industry Association held the meeting for those affected by the closure of the Dardanup Butchering Company custom kill service at The Dam on October 8. The meeting was led by a new working group formed by Patrick O’Neill from Tingle Ridge Farm. Mr O’Neill said the purpose of the group was to create equitable, viable and permanent access for multi-species processing in the South West. “I got the call from DBC, like everyone else, to say we’re not going to be able to access that (custom kills) service anymore. “I didn’t know what to do, but I knew that I had to do it now,” he said. “I’ve had considerable support from other people, and especially from some that have walked in the political spheres and corporate spheres.” Mr O’Neill told the Times the focus was for small producers to be able go back to business as usual. “That’s only outcome that matters for all of these producers that suddenly can’t run their businesses. One of the discussions during the forum was about revamping an old Manjimup abattoir to absorb the lost capacity, Mr O’Neill said. “It’s going to require a lot of work and lot of coordination with different people, but it does seem to be very attractive to an awful lot of people as a good solution, and it is a nice central location,” he said. Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie said the forum in Denmark was about listening to South West and Great Southern producers and their industry-led strategies for securing paddock-to-plate processing options. “Since the initial Dardanup Butchering Company announcement, I have been actively working with the industry, and I’m pleased they have extended their deadline to give our local producers more time to secure alternative processing options. “It was encouraging to hear their practical ideas for moving forward,” she said. Ms Kelsbie has agree to contact DWER to request an approach to Corrigin Meat Works to increase its annual production to above 1000 tonnes per annum. If approved, Ms Kelsbie will help the expedition of the approvals process as an immediate solution. “I will continue to advocate for local producers to ensure they have a sustainable future and certainty regarding local processing.” Manjimup farmer and Nationals WA candidate Bevan Eatts said many farm-to-plate business had been seriously affected by the DBC closure. “There’s certainly a lot of concern around those smaller producers that have put a lot of time and effort into marketing their produce in that pay to play model,” he said. “Their future is certainly a little bit uncertain past February (2025).” Mr Eatts said the industry needed to look at the medium to long-term future of custom kills. “From an industry point of view, we need to come together and look at where does the future look for livestock in the South West going forward,” he said. “These things won’t be built overnight, so we need to probably have a long-term vision for the future.” Mr O’Neill said the group would focus on “industry led” solutions with Government involvement. “It was made very clear at the forum that the Government isn’t about to go out and build an abattoir on their own,” he said. He said he was impressed to see politicians in the room from different parties having constructive conversations with each other. “It’s about bringing a group of people together that are able to work cooperatively, and everyone’s got different skills, and so we’ve just got to draw on that.” “Their support is really appreciated and needed,” he said. The presenters included I-Lyn Loo, CEO of the WA Meat Industry Authority, Chris Kelly of the Australian Meat Industry Council, Western Beef Association vice-chair David Humphrey and Peter Gray, the managing scientist of food in the Environmental Health Directorate Public and Aboriginal Health Division of the WA Department of Health.