By Jeremy Sollars
A plan for a large-scale algae farm at Goondiwindi is due to be considered by the Goondiwindi Regional Council in coming months.
Woods Grain has proposed the development of an algae farm – which would produce omega-3 oil as a livestock feed supplement – at its site on the Barwon Highway on the western side of Goondiwindi.
Woods Grain last year secured a $579,000 grant from the Palaszczuk Government to go towards the project.
The formal development application has been on public display in recent weeks with submissions closing yesterday, Wednesday 31 January.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year said Woods Grain was one of six recipients that would “help put Queensland at the forefront of the global bio-industrial revolution”.
“Under the project, Woods Grain will seek to establish a new algae farm in Goondiwindi and trial new technology for the extraction of omega-3 oil from the algae,” Ms Palaszczuk said last July when the grant was announced.
“This could produce a high-protein feedstock and open up the possibility of a brand new agricultural industry in the state,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“In recent years Woods Grain, part of the Woods Group, has been looking at new protein options.
“This has resulted in collaboration with Professor Peer Schenk, at the University of Queensland, who has been researching the opportunity to use microalgae grown in small ponds as an omega-3 oil source for human consumption, biofuels and a protein source for stockfeed.”
If approved by the Goondiwindi Regional Council the algae farm will be the next major new industry venture for that region, with the council having approved a $100 million new abattoir shortly before Christmas.
In a statement at the time the Goondiwindi Regional Council said the Fucheng International Abattoirs development will employ 380 fulltime staff when in full operation “and the direct and indirect benefit to the economy will begin even before operation, with hundreds more jobs on offer during the construction stage”.
“This is an exciting time for Goondiwindi and the region,” said Mayor Graeme Scheu.
“We believe we are on the cusp of another agricultural growth boom in the economy and the social structure of the region.
“Every rural town in Australia is searching for a development like this to come their way and we are happy that Fucheng International settled on Goondiwindi as their preferred site.
“Logistically, Goondiwindi is ideally situated at the junction of five highways and being export abattoirs, the proximity to Wellcamp Airport has obviously played its part.”
“It is another example of regional benefit stemming from major infrastructure.”
The abattoir will be developed on the site of an abandoned sheep abattoir on the outskirts of the town on the Cunningham Highway.
