A King Island abattoir is about to start processing beef, lamb, wallaby and pork products.
The King Island Multi Species Abbatoir (KIMSA), would trade under the name King Island Prime Meats, executive officer Don Story said.
“It will produce high quality beef, lamb, wallaby and pork products for residents and the growing number of tourists,” Mr Story said. A report, prepared for KIMSA, said demand for meat by island residents and a growing tourism industry - fuelled by the island’s golf courses - offered an opportunity to develop a profitable, small, multi-species abattoir on the island.
“We were able to raise enough money as a community to not only buy the land and building but also refurbish it to export standards.” But Mr Story said there were no plans to export product from KIMSA. He said $600,000 had been contributed by about 100 farming families, businesses and individuals on the island.
Approvals had been granted to process less than 100 tonnes a year.
Production would also include the manufacture of wallaby hams, salamis and kabana, produced with King Island salt, honey, pepperberry and garlic.
