The Port of Karumba has huge potential for development but a commitment is needed from the State Government to help Gulf graziers capitalise on live export opportunities, an industry leader believes.
Barry Hughes, president of the Gulf Cattleman’s Association, said the Gulf region was home to massive numbers of cattle ideally suited to the export market in southeast Asia.
“We just need government commitment in terms of developing that port so that we can take advantage of those numbers and the type of product that is in the area,” Mr Hughes said.
He was speaking at last week’s BeefUp Forum in Mt Surprise where live export was on the agenda.
Currently, most cattle from the Gulf region head to Townsville, Cloncurry or other centres bound for Darwin.
Figures provided by SEALS, one of the exporters who operate out of Karumba, show 12,000 head were exported in 2015.
Mr Hughes said cattle producers currently faced a cost impost with having to send cattle to other centres.
“With Karumba sitting on our front doorstep we are not taking advantage of that particular port and what it has to offer, therefore, the grazing industry has to get right behind those exporters who are trying to develop the potential of that,” Mr Hughes said.
“But we need commitment from our state government to be fair dinkum in getting the northern cattle industry moving.”
Mr Hughes comments came after Member for Mt Isa Robbie Katter attacked the State Government over its inaction in dredging the channel of the port.
Mr Katter has asked two Questions on Notice in the past 12 months on the issue, calling on the government to reinvest some of the $500 million it has received in mine taxes and royalties into dredging the channel.
“The Minister’s response shows a lack of understanding for the urgency required to solve this issue,” Mr Katter said.
“I applaud the Minister’s desire to increase trade through the Port, but there are exporters right now who are wanting to get shipments to market but are unable to do so because the channel isn’t being dredged.
“It’s simply not good enough for the government to sit on its hands and watch capacity at the port dwindle away because of the channel depth.
“They are playing with people’s livelihoods by not committing to ensuring there is a safe and reliable passage for vessels out of the Port of Karumba.”
The port was largely been maintained by Century Zinc mine owner, MMG, before the mine closed in January this year.
Mr Katter said the port was the lifeblood of the Gulf and the Queensland Government-owned corporation Ports North must ensure the facility was accessible for all users.
“If the channel is dredged and running at full capacity it will drive growth by giving more users an incentive to ship through Karumba,” Mr Katter said.
“It’s simply greedy for Ports North to extract such a significant amount of funds from Karumba and the Gulf through royalties and not reinvest and contribute back in to the Port because MMG is no longer shipping ore through the facility.”
