Posted on April 5, 2018
By Jessica Johnston, North Queensland Register
LIVE export is set to resume from the Karumba Port with a six and a half year channel dredging commitment providing certainty for graziers in the Gulf.
The $6.8 million will begin in coming months to create a channel depth of 3.2 metres after a deal was negotiated between the State Government, Port’s North, and New Century Resources, who will recommence shipping operations through Karumba from October.
The dredging will continue for the mine’s estimated 6.5 year life.
The Karumba port channel was developed to facilitate Century Mine operations in 1999 and they funded annual maintenance dredging until suspending operations in late 2015.
The State Government stumped up $1.7 million for dredging in 2016, but there was no ongoing maintenance plan until now.
Live export operations have been suspended for almost eight months, with the last boat leaving in July.
South East Asian Livestock Services had hoped to send two shipments from the port in January on the highest tides of the month, but were not granted the required permits.
AgForce North Regional President Russell Lethbridge said the dredging commitment was a wonderful result for graziers in the Gulf and the entire Karumba community.
“It’s a wonderful result for live export, in particular it will allow those bigger boats to continue to take cattle out of the Gulf,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“It’s a terrific outcome that will see the benefits flow through.”
Mr Lethbridge said graziers would benefit from reduced transport costs instead of freighting cattle to Townsville or Darwin, and animal welfare standards would also be improved.
He said it would likely open up new markets for graziers in the region.
”I would say for sure, there has been widespread rain, across the region… there’s certainly country that is returning to production that’s been out a fair while,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“Every single market we can access adds to the export marketing environment.
“Take one away and it’s usually the producer that pays, this will add to the whole market place.
“The SEALS boats that go out of Karumba have their niche markets for smaller boat loads, they have their clients overseas and can go back to them.”
Source: North Queensland Register
