"TABRO Meat in Lance Creek is now a part of Kilcoy Global Foods (KGF) Australia, and we are excited to expand the business."
So says KGF in a recruitment advertisement for an electrician posted on SEEK in the past few days.
“We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrician to join our team in Lance Creek,” they say.
“Plant Operations are about to commence so this is a terrific opportunity to get involved right from the beginning, including design, installation, commissioning and the development of ongoing maintenance schedules in a fast-going industry.”
The announcement that Tabro Meat, boasting a processing capacity of 500 to 800 head per day, is set to reopen after four years laying idle is good news for the local economy and potentially great news for local beef producers.
Kilcoy Global Foods Australia has previously advertised for a ‘Financial Accountant’, a full-time role based at Lance Creek “to co-ordinate financial accounting activities for Kilcoy Global Foods new operations at Lance Creek, due to open mid 2023”.
KGF has also advertised for an ‘Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic’ to be located at the Lance Creek plant, which hasn’t operated since 2017.
“Experience a country change, and find your Future in Food! Try something new, with the support of on-the-job training, and lifestyle rosters.”
The Queensland meat processing firm, which finalised its purchase of Victorian beef and lamb processor Hardwicks Meats in July 2021, is also advertising for a ‘Group Logistics Manager’ based in Melbourne.
So, are they getting set to reopen Tabro’s?
Their advertising certainly says so, but locally, stock agents say they have had no contact with the firm.
“You’d imagine if they intend to start buying cattle locally that they would be in contact with local agents, but we haven’t heard anything at this stage,” said Wonthaggi-based stock agent’s representative Alan Bolding.
Mr Bolding said the owners of the Tabro plant had maintained a skeleton staff at Lance Creek, providing maintenance services and the like, but he said nearby residents said they hadn’t seen any escalation in activity.
“While beef prices have moved down, we’re told that the market for Australian beef is constrained at the moment. It may not be a good time to reopen,” Mr Bolding said.
But, in recent months, publicity has been given to the likelihood that China will soon resume importing Australian beef.
Geopolitical factors have conspired to impact the timing of late but with Trade Minister Don Farrell touching down in China on Thursday, May 11, with beef exports firmly in his sights, a change might not be far away.
And the reopening of Australian beef exports to China might be exactly what KGF, with its Chinese links, is waiting for.
Kilcoy Global Foods Australia has been contacted for comment about its recruitment efforts and the narrative in their adverts that the Tabro plant is “due to open mid 2023” but so far without response.
In this case, however, no news might be good news for Wonthaggi, Bass Coast and local beef producers.
