Cattle handling equipment manufacturer Morrissey & Co is establishing a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Queensland, which is expected to create new jobs in the Western Downs region.
The new agricultural manufacturing facility is backed by the fourth round of the Queensland government’s Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant Scheme.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said job growth in regional communities is important for economic growth and critical to encouraging skilled workers in the region.
“The innovative equipment produced by Morrissey & Co has been an integral part of the beef cattle industry for over 70 years. This investment will see both domestic and international demands of this cattle handling equipment being met,” Furner said
Sean Morrissey, director of Morrissey & Co, said in a statement that the expansion of the company’s existing infrastructure will assist the wider beef cattle industry across Australia and overseas.
The director added that the government grant will allow his company to build a new shed expand its painting facility area, establish new facilities and offices, and have a stronger capability to meet demands.
“We are ready to deliver a new facility project that will provide a much-needed boost to jobs in our local, small regional town and will also have a direct, positive flow-on effect to employment across the Western Downs,” Morrissey said.
Sixteen companies have been selected for the fourth round of the RED grants program, amounting to more than $3 million. Through this initiative, more than 217 direct long-term jobs are expected to be created across regional Queensland.
The three initial rounds of the grant program have seen funding of $10 million over three years to support more than 30 projects, which have created 1,800 jobs across the state.
